A Texas shattering
If some Word somewhere uttered this world
into being, it mispronounced itself.
Word may have stuttered or lost the grammar
of language, left creation unbalanced,
so we have swung round to deceptive speech
and lost touch with Word’s life-creating promise.
This world has created words of its own,
built itself a life-denying language
more concerned with securing questionable
rights than saving innocent lives,
avoiding any responsibility,
disregarding Word’s ongoing offer of life.
A ritual too frequent
Uvalde held 11 funerals that week.
Burial bells at Sacred Heart rang out
sadly familiar tones as the sexton
and a younger priest complete essential
services for the now smaller family
gathered before the pall placed early
by bearers in a newly opened section
of graveyard still without monuments.
Focused on the failure of many
Spreading blame for the Uvalde attack.
With studied disregard for legislation
they proudly approved in last year’s session,
a Texas House panel found shelter
accusing others of failure to stop
the teenager carrying deadly weapons
their own actions made easily available
and hid their continued refusal to adopt
any restriction on any person’s
easy purchase of rapid fire rifles
behind their strict constructionist veils.
Too many tears
too many constructionists covering their ass
with too many thoughts and too many prayers
too many excuses for bullets and bodies
and too many mourners in too many places,
too many clergy too hesitant to speak
too many leaders too beholden to lead
too many too silent for too many years
too many funerals and too many tears