Stifled Pleas

"Never again." We have said

“Never again!” too many times.

The hours advance, leaving us

With doleful reminders when the clock chimes.

“Never again” echoes through

The deep canyons of empty hearts

As irretrievable hopes remain

Buried by anguish that never departs.

"Never again" emerged through pain--

Through unspeakable affliction,

Horrified by the shamelessness

Of facts being smothered by fiction.

"Never again" for a moment

Rose from yearnings, deep and profound

Until woeful indifference

Muffled the once inspirited sound.

"Never again" filled a chasm

Of bleak despair with promising goals,

Without which we're on the cliffs of uncertainty,

Constantly asking for whom the bell tolls.

-by Bob B (11-11-18)