17 Going On 18

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I’m 9 going on 10 and

26 kindergarteners are dead

I don’t know what to feel

I’m petrified.

I’m mournful.

Wondering who would want to kill 26 kids

The same age as my younger brother.

But there’s no time to be sad;

It’s time to move on.

Move on to the next tragedy,

Lurking around the corner.

 

I’m 14 going on 15 and

50 are dead in a Florida nightclub.

Killed by guns,

But truly killed by intolerance and hate

 

I’m starting to become numb.

It’s the only way to stop the pain of lives extinguished too soon.

Numbness conceals the fear,

Never truly squelching the despair.

 

I’m 16 going on 17 and

58 concertgoers are dead in Vegas.

Numbness caress me,

Protecting me from fear.

Muffling the screams for change.

 

I’m 16 going 17 and

I am numb.
Numb to the pain of students halfway across the country,
Reliving St. Valentines massacre.
Numbness envelopes me,

But is pushed back by the fact that

My President hasn’t done a damn thing to keep me safe.
 

Telling victims to report suspicious activity.
They did,
But Our laws allowed Cruz access to a gun.
Are 17 lives worth 30 million?
You tell me President Trump.

When our founding fathers gave us the right to bear arms,
You could shoot one bullet every five minutes.
They didn’t have mass shooting:
They didn’t have 18 shootings in four months.
But we do.
Isn’t it time for a change?

18 shootings this year,
Isn’t that 18 to many?
 

This is becoming our new normal.

Each shooting blending together.

The lives of my peers should be remembered past the next school shooting.

Furthermore,

My president should not have to be reminded to give condolences.

 

I’m numb because if I feel the pain from 18 shootings
I won’t be able to get up and fight .
My politicians are supposed to keep us safe.
What the hell happened?
Oh right, 30 million happened.
Why does a billionaire need 30 million to keep the country in guns?
Why does money come before our lives?

 

I’m 17 going on 18

And I refuse to be numb anymore.

I will fight with my words,

No longer only focused on protecting myself.

I will give my voice to fight for our protection.

We are your future,

It is our time to speak.

 

(c)2018 Eden Treiman