by Richard Krawiec
Somewhere past the middle
of the video, 57 minutes in,
maybe between bullet 79
and 80, perhaps after
the 18th or 19th child
screamed its death,
the sheriff at the end
of the hallway
casually crossed
to the hand sanitizer,
gave it 3 squirts,
lathered it around
assiduously,
long enough to hum
Happy Birthday
because, you know,
it’s important
to protect
yourself and others.
Richard Krawiec has published 3 books of poetry, 4 novels in France, 2 in the U.S., dozens of poems, stories, feature articles and creative non-fiction in literary and mainstream mags.
He is founder of Jacar Press, A Community Active press that supports progressive causes.
Bullets into Bells 