Gun Violence

Bang, bang
She heard that noise when her friend got shot in the street
He was only thirteen
They found him with a bullet lodged in his throat because his feet
Were not fast enough to save him
Blood dripped from his lips, his final breath letting out in a hiss
He was her first kiss
But she can't imagine kissing him now
There is far too much blood and he is far too young
Bang, bang
He heard that noise when he shot a gun for the first time
His hands were bruised for weeks after that
From the kickback, the staccato of hard black
That was too much for his gentle-boy hands
Bone-deep bruises, this was not part of the plan
But at least he’s tearing up wooden planks
Instead of ranks of schoolchildren
Bang, bang
She heard that noise when she was walking home two months ago
She hit the ground so fast that she got a mouthful of dirt
The impact hurt, but if she hadn't been so fast
She might've gotten worse than just swallowing dirt
Because the bullet would’ve tasted so much worse
But thank God, it was not hers to bite
She never saw the gun that day, or the would-be wronger of rights
But for some reason, she knows exactly what he looked like
Bang, bang
He heard that noise when he tried to kill himself
In sixth grade
Because he had swallowed so much hate
That he got to wondering how swallowing a bullet would feel
He missed his head but hit the wall, bone bruises in his hand again from the heel
Of the gun
To this day there are two holes in the plaster
To remind him why a walking disaster should not be allowed near a weapon of mass destruction designed to deconstruct
They know the killer
Because they see him every time they look in the mirror
That mirrors their montage of metal-made scars
Bang, bang
Don't end up like them
Bang, bang
Isn't something you want to hear
Bang, bang
You're dead
Click, clack
Reload