how many times

how many times do the innocent
have to die at the hands of someone who
hates, who has an assault rifle, who wants to
go down in history.
Sandy Hook, Aurora, Fort Hood, Wisconsin,
Washington Navy Yard, Seattle
now Charleston.
they have suffered already so much.
how many times do our leaders turn away
muttering meaningless murmurs of regret,
returning to the dollars and cents that win their
re-election.
make that millions of dollars
it's about money, not lives lost.
we bend our heads in sorrow for more
innocent lives lost, more to come,
we do nothing to stop it.