For how long have I been blind

To the violence and death surrounding us?

For how long have the demands for change

Fallen upon deaf ears and turned cheeks?

The sobering realization that

The world has always been this cruel

The childish ignorance that raised me to believe

The world has always been perfect

A day cannot pass

Without the mentioning of death

Too many days have passed

And I've become numb

When I look to news

And see the headlines of violence

There is no surprise

And I have no tears

Am I childish?

Or am I heartless?

I have no fear of the future

I have no grief for the past

The best I can do

Is simply live in the present

And acknowledge the rising death tolls

And offer my silence and bowed head

For the ones unfortunate enough

To suffer the wrath of the world