“Senseless slaughter of the innocent
In the land of life and liberty
A country of brotherly love
A melting pot of diversity and acceptance
Murder wreaks havoc in the land of plenty
Lives taken at the blink of an eye
An eye once looking far and forward
To achieving the American Dream
Violence is winning while
Young boys and innocent girls are losing
No longer free to pursue goals
Cheated by an early fate of death
The cruel sacrifice a mother makes
Losing her innocent lamb
Off to school, to the corner store,
A playground, or to a movie theater
My heart bleeds tears of sorrow
As I hear the latest news
Of another slain victim
Sacrificed, again, as violence lives on.”
~ JLE 2013