Weep, America

Six-year-old Stephen Romero,

An energetic, vibrant boy,

Was full of curiosity,

Gregariousness, life, and joy.

On Sunday morning, young Stephen

And mom were both unaware

Of what was going to happen to them

During their Sunday trip to the fair.

Keyla Salazar was called

"La luchadora"° by her dad.

The thirteen-year-old's smile was one

Of the greatest treasures her father had.

On Sunday morning, Keyla, too,

Was totally unaware

Of what she was going to encounter

During her fateful trip to the fair.

Trevor Irby, twenty-five,

Was getting ready to propose

To someone very special to him.

At least so the story goes.

On Sunday, Trevor, along with a friend,

Decided to spend a day at the fair.

Surely, they had no idea

What they were going to encounter there.

Nineteen-year-old Santino Legan,

For reasons hard to understand,

Went to the Gilroy Garlic Festival

On Sunday with his gun in hand.

There he took the lives of Stephen,

Keyla, and Trevor. More blood was shed:

Thirteen other people were injured

Before the police shot him dead.

Weep, America; weep for our youth,

Killed by messengers of hate

Because we cannot draw the line

At how much we can tolerate.

Weep, America; weep again

That access to weapons goes unchecked.

Weep for murdered ones whose lives

Our lawmakers are supposed to protect.

Weep for all of us, for we

Cannot feel safe anywhere:

At school, at work, at stores, at concerts,

At places of worship, or at a fair.

-by Bob B (8-1-19)

°the fighter