I took a picture of you last year

Us

Playing in the snow
And I noticed a smile in one of them

It was under the laughter we created
Building a snowman

We were laughing at his buttons
And carrot nose we brought to clothe him

I haven't seen you smile like that once
This year

Because this year was the worst
We've ever known here
Or anywhere

And when you came home
And unpacked your semi automatic weapon
You threw your bullet proof vest on my desk
And said they deserved it

The news shape shifted into the narratives
They selected

And there was a war against guns

Because your crime had nothing to do
With your mental illness
Or the reality you came to
When you thought about shooting everyone

That poor gun needed some medications
So it could've controlled the retaliations
And learned how to be a much better one
With its choices