I, too, sing America.
I am of the brave, one of the free.
They hide my voice behind my too short years,
Yet I speak a truth, and they must hear!
But most ignore the clarion call,
And hide behind their painted doors,
And place their trust in ignorance.
Tomorrow, they must hear my cries!
I'll tell them, they must act, and soon;
I speak a truth, and they must hear!
Nobody'll doubt my vision then;
My age will make no difference, then.
I see the truth that they will see,
And no one more will doubt in me.
Besides, the truth is shining clear,
They'll see it soon, and they will hear,
And they will act, as I now try, for
I, too, am America.

When the lights go out
We should not fear;
Death is our nightmare.

School should be safe,
Not a whirlwind of panic
About bullets and pain.

When the lights go out
We should not think
"We're gonna die."

I remember a window,
It was sunny outside;
The autumn leaves
Shone red in the light.
I remember your smile,
Sunny as well;
How innocent we were back then.

There's a photo I’ve kept,
It’s of us at that window,
Grinning as only two children can grin.
You look like you have some great
Secret to tell me,
A mischievous plan in your head.

You’re wearing that necklace you always had with you,
A shark tooth, I think, but I’m really not sure.

It’s been so long.

The years have since swept me
Where you cannot follow.
You’re trapped in that window,
And now I’m outside.

I like to remember you there,
Since it’s better
Than dreaming of doctors.
And churches.
And tears.

In nightmares and in waking dreams
I see them standing there.
Their faces, they who never age,
Who’ve long been resting in their graves,
Surrounding me with love and with their loss.

“I’ve missed you, since you left me, dear,”
I long to say to them.
I never get to speak the words;
My tongue is stopped with tears.

They smile at me, beckon to me,
Never do they speak,
And while I stay here, trapped by love,
They slowly fade away.

Their memories are blurring now,
Half washed away by tears;
Their vibrant colors run to grey,
A rainbow of the years

Oh sandman, take away my dream
So I will never cry at night,
Wake up sweating
Chilled to the bone
Because you were dead.
My greatest fear
That you will leave,
Like he did
All those years ago
8 years
3 months
7 days
Since he was dead
A day before his birthday.
He was never 9.
And I dream that you are dead
Like him.
His brother too
Died much to young.
Six short years to live.
But you outlived them both.
You are you lived past 6.
Then 9.
Now 11.
But still I wake at night
Because you were dead
In my arms
And you were so very very cold
And still.
I run into your room
And you’re asleep.
Alive.
Sometimes smiling.
But still the nightmare comes

A battle rages all around me
I stand alone amidst the storm.
The banner that I bear aloft
Is savaged by the raging wind.
The words I scream into the dark
Are lost amidst its roar,
My banner unseen, my battle cry unheard.
And yet I fight on.
I’ll scream my message from the rooftops,
Carry the banner until my words are read.
You are worthy.
You are strong.
You are loved.
You are not to blame.

When I close my eyes,
I can almost imagine,
And I almost believe
My sweet, sad lies.
I can tell myself
It’s all a dream,
And he’ll be here
Beside me again.