Cold Dead Fingers

You gave me an ultimatum
it was my way or yours
I don’t like ultimatums
when there is still civil discourse 

Let me make myself clear
I don’t give a fuck about what you hold dear
discourse ain’t pragmatic
when you’re brandishing a semi-automatic

And traipsing down the hallways
of my daughter’s middle school
while she and all of her classmates
play by the Golden Rule

Treat others as you’d treat yourself
get under your desk if you value your health
but a desk ain’t much protection
from a nutjob with a weapon

And they pry it from his cold dead fingers
after so many folks are hurt
but that won’t bring back Sally
‘coz she’s 6’ in the dirt

So you’ve got an AR whatever
wondering what the fuss is about
oblivious to Sally’s death
like we can work this out

But she won’t sell no Girl Scout cookies
and she won’t dance at the prom
she won’t be walking down the aisle
holding her Daddy’s arm

When I held her cold dead fingers
no more joy could she still give
just broken hopes and shattered dreams
of the life she would not live



Bryans Road, Maryland  
3/3/18