To Love and Anger

Skin, ripping open to a thunderous blow, as sweat swings to and fro
And all the persons cowering in halls, forget to make the call
Last night a man died, flung from a truck out front
As stunned crowds meandered and snapped photo's from their phones
I found myself alone on the curb, with an old woman who moaned
"It's not fair, it's just not fair, I've known him since he was a boy"
My shaken arm around her, I struggled to find any word to convey
The unbearable hate that welled in my heart, I found myself to weak to say
I wish I could crush the hate from this world, I shuttered but could not reply
I just sat there in my emptiness and squeezed her oh so tight
And as the ambulance and officers cleared us away, the old woman began to hum....
"I didn't know the gun was loaded and I'm so sorry my friend"
I remembered the tune from my youth
But somehow, although it seemed to comfort the others
It just was not enough for me
So I asked her name, and spit on the ground, just to catch her as she walked away
I didn't know the gun was loaded......rang through my head
And I hated myself for having done nothing......

Tony Taylor (Chicago)