it’s another list of names,
one that’s always too long.
chaotic, uncensored noise
met with careless silence from officials
children who must now become adults,
teenagers who must now become leaders.
children with nightmares, teenagers with flashbacks.
someone else has done the growing up for them.
they — and we — will ask, cry, scream, beg for help
and we will be met with silence.
at first. but not forever.
not now. not this time.
this is where we begin
from here, right here
breaking the silence
from here. right. here.
saying more, talking louder
until you can’t hear the silence anymore.
