By Clayre Benzadon May bells, may bells continue chiming Mary’s tears— nursery myrtle used to crown heroes. Today, lemon- grass summer pools deceive more than usual. Nursery chimes sound like firehammers, when they work. They can blow a skull, bash a fragment of gunmetal, steel a teacher—a teacher always has their students’ backs. That’s how … More Parkland
Representing Saint Louis Story Stitchers Artists Collective: Leading performing artists in the Stitchers Youth Council performed their original poems, “Different” by Emeara and “Different II” by Branden. The poems draw from stories collected by the artists from St. Louis neighborhoods and reflect on the pressures of gang violence. The poems were commissioned by Saint Louis … More Story Stitchers St. Louis Performance
By Sheila Squillante —for my daughter, after Parkland Dear teacher, my daughter is terrified Dear locker, yellow metal, filled Dear blood on the floor. It’s how things are. Dear locked door My daughter is supposed to++++++++++++++++++++++++hide inside. Dear bullets that tore through your +++++++++++organs. Dear dear. Dear boy holding shut the door and … More She Was Instructed to Hide Inside a Locker
by Mary Volmer A performance poem for three actors. 1, 2, and 3 stand in a row, each holding behind her back a small scroll filled with names of people killed by gun violence. Very little movement except in their faces and voices, and in the eventual unfurling of the scrolls. The stage is bare. … More CHEKHOV’S LAW
By Lisa Norris I can’t look at the markers on the field for the slain who were shot, and last night’s production of Lear, when good Gloucester’s eyes were removed, is in my brain on continuous loop: once, I was happy here, wasn’t I? I grew tomatoes, raised children and taught people who went on … More Revisiting Virginia Tech
By Shanna Yetman Pop. Your son’s stroller hits a rock. It’s 3 p.m. It was 3 p.m. then, too. You’re late because you’re taking the long way. You’ve pushed your walk west from Glenwood, so you’ll happen upon Devon closer to the grocery store. But hadn’t he moved to this block two weeks ago? This … More Safe Enough
By Allison Blevins when a school becomes a front line, it helps to imagine my children at their desks still as stones. It helps me to remember that some bullets were meant for some children like prophecies inscribed on metal: name, location, hair and eye color. I imagine my own children startled into the … More On Days Like This Day,
By Conor Kelly About the Author Conor Kelly is an Irish poet, living in a rural town in West Clare. He has had poems printed in Irish, British, American and Mexican magazines.
By Jen Karetnick Don’t offer me the Chic Lady Handgun with a barrel the color of bubblegum, faux alligator case included to carry with tests and term papers done, nor the Ruger with recoil reduced, semi-automatic, raspberry hued, to be hung from a bra holster like fruit until an active shooter has been cued. Take … More How to Dis/Arm a Female Teacher
Six minutes, so much loss. Four minutes of silence, so much heart. https://youtu.be/u46HzTGVQhg
Bullets into Bells 