A Leaf

Jeremy Lee, at an ice-creamery
On the evening of October 10th
Lost fifty-five dollars and seventy cents
Was shot twice in the chest and again in the head
The police found him dead by the walk-in

And he loved God so much
As he lay inside his bed
He could feel her sweep over his skin
Feel her filling the air with the weight of her care
He didn't care what was waiting for him

How he'd cry, cry so much
Knowing that this was the end
And then feel like a leaf
Lifted by wind
How I'd love him so much that I almost cave in
Every time my hand touches the pen

So lower your cameras and switch off the spot
You shouldn't be proud of the footage you got
'Cause there won't be an end to the similar shots
That have happened, are happening, and can't be prevented
From endlessly happening again

For all your pride and your comfort and speed of ascent
You're heading too soon for a similar end
Maybe coughing up blood in a hospital bed
As your heart attack, cancer or car accident
Breaks you down to a place in the ground for your kids to come visit

And if God loves us back, now we know, out and in
She must have no control over this world's events
Because no one deserves this much punishment
Now it's late in the autumn and leaves line the bend
It's a beautiful day for the first snow to land
So it's landing on me and on Jeremy Lee
Who left this world gracefully, broken