One left that way,
another tried - in vain.

All, always, in fact,
tragedies- after the fact.

not when it was happening.
never- no.

When the world turns the blind eye,
and further, lacks competence to care;

How is any one really,
to blame- that is how,

it must be said,
that is how this culture fell asleep nights.

Tears after they leave,
and while here-

and simply trying to not
bomb the world,

bomb another bed,
bomb another baby,

bomb another forest,
progress! - that is what

this culture sacrificed it's children for.
so as I-

all but given up the
Courageous loving that

life itself requires
in times of crisis;

as I tried to keep quiet,
the final nail struck the coffin.

finally, it is clear to see-
how hope, love, peace, trust

is bombed from the hearts
of those who truly

wish none but to live life
true to themselves,

true to life itself-
not a mask,

not another rigmarole.
not this, either.

so as the hammer struck the nail final,
the tears too dry now to drop

any more, I touched the heart and soul,
of each fallen kin, taken by

all these nobody's-
"nobody asked you to work there!",

"nobody asked you to attend college there!",
"nobody asked you to put up a pride flag at work!",

"nobody asked you to do drugs!",
"nobody asked you to go crazy!",

"nobody asked you to sit late with him-
it is your fault you were *****.".

ah. a lot of nobody's
in my company.

and as my mind ran circles over circles,
and I contemplate

the pill, the rope,
the wrist, or the fall-

it occurs to me.
No.

I shall not.
no, no, no- not for myself-

that you've taken from me,
at the age of eight.

no-
this one, for the ones who said yes.

all my friends and family-
pushed into corners- what for?

for
nobody.