Litany

This is the bullet
that ricocheted off the pavement in a poof of dust

This is the bullet
that joined 15 other bullets to kill the teenager

This is the bullet that shattered the nine-year-old
lured into the alley

This is the bullet
that the two-year fired through his mother

This is the bullet
that murdered the anchorwoman

This is the bullet
that killed the cameraman

This is the bullet
that split the brain of the congresswoman

This is the bullet
that pierced Dawn the principal
This is the bullet
that pierced Lauren the teacher
This is the bullet
that pierced Victoria the other teacher
This is the bullet
that pierced Rachel the teacher’s aide
This is the bullet
that pierced Anne Marie the other teacher’s aide
This is the bullet
that pierced Mary the school psychologist

This is the bullet
that pierced seven-year-old Daniel
This is the bullet
that pierced seven-year-old Chase
This is the bullet
that pierced seven-year-old Josephine
This is the bullet
that pierced seven-year-old Grace

This is the bullet
that pierced six-year-old Charlotte
This is the bullet
that pierced six-year-old Olivia
This is the bullet
that pierced six-year-old Dylan
This is the bullet
that pierced six-year-old Madeleine
This is the bullet
that pierced six-year-old Catherine
This is the bullet
that pierced six-year-old Jesse
This is the bullet
that pierced six-year-old Ana
This is the bullet
that pierced six-year-old James
This is the bullet
that pierced six-year-old Emilie
This is the bullet
that pierced six-year-old Jack
This is the bullet
that pierced six-year-old Noah
This is the bullet
that pierced six-year-old Caroline
This is the bullet
that pierced six-year-old Jessica
This is the bullet
that pierced six-year-old Avielle
This is the bullet
that pierced six-year-old Benjamin
This is the bullet
that pierced six-year-old Allison

This is the bullet
that exploded through the TV screen and lodged in my heart

This is the bullet
that separates the mothers from the sons
the fathers from the daughters
the lucky from the dead
the movie from the real

but not the nightmare from the dreamer

This is the bullet
that penetrates
the blanket of grief
that covers us all
muffles our words
those crippled birds we beseech

when this bullet
has blown away
our speech