No Safe Harbor

Binghamton, April 3, 2009

1

The gunman took little time
taking 13 lives, and then his own.
Where is there safe harbor?

The shootings took place
in a center of hope, of civic pride.
So where is there safe harbor?

They came to escape to a better life,
to live their dreams in freedom.
So where is there safe harbor?

The killer sailed with them,
father, cousin, brother, son.
Where is there safe harbor?

2

What stirred the calm that rainy day
What went right, what went wrong,
where was the line to save him?

Did his heart beat wildly in his chest,
did his body drip with sweat,
did blood burn behind his eyes
when he pulled the trigger back?

Did he see the pain escape
as he watched his victims fall,
did it have the face of evil,
did it laugh, was that its call?

Did he see their spirits leave
as he put the pistol to his face,
did he ask where the living went
when they quit the human race?