It’s Time to Heed the Headlines

A plea to gun-toting parents

If you love your daughters and your sons,
you can’t be careless with your guns.
A weapon left in easy reach
can be the death of them.

The tragic news we’ve read about
should undermine whatever doubt
may yet remain concerning what’s
the loving thing to do.

A grownup gun is not a toy.
And little girls and little boys
can’t differentiate what’s what
except when it’s too late.

So please lock up the guns you own
before you hear your child moan
while bleeding out before your eyes
that can’t hold back the tears.