What's next? I wrote this for stand up poetry night
This is for the ones who have no voice. For the ones who have a voice and choose to stay silent. For the ones who hurt, I hear you, I see, I am you. 137 they say. I SAY IT WAS OVER KILL What's next? I said, " What's next? When my husband, your son, my child's father, is lying in the street covered in red? His body lay chilling, waiting for the next step. I said, " What's next? When you see people passing by holding phones and flashing lights. I said, " What's next? when he has to be carried by six, and one could damn near be the very one who stole his life. They say bullets have no name. But I promise you, each person that it hits has a name, now tell me, should that lie stay the same? What's next? When that car was stolen just for a joy ride. or a new high. And Grandma on her way to church, but that high-speed chase got her hurt. Some people say they are just kids, they don't know any better. Social media says blame the parents, make them pay, because it's their kids. And I will say it again. Some say they don't know any better. Maybe their parents should have raised them better. I say throw them under the bus, we need to start making these streets safe because they know to do better and be better. I said what's next because a single mother's cries are not heard. Fox 8 said a child was found dead. Yeah, what's next when the family says she had mental issues? I knew she was dealing with something. Just never thought she would hurt that child, so we all turned our heads. So I said, " What's next? Shots rang out; now two are dead. Murder-suicide, what was going through his head? I said What's next when she was in the school bathroom, cramping and bleeding heavily, not knowing she was carrying one of God's creations. Scared, she threw it away and went about her day. What's next? When your child doesn't want to come home every day? It's a fight staying over at a friend's house, hoping before they leave that they could have another bite to eat, a hug, a smile, a how's your day or just to hear the words I love you.