Lon Wartman Poet Free verse

Notes About The Poem

 I wrote the enclosed poem “The Killing Fields” in September of 2019   It is a reflection of my thoughts and why we as a country can’t come to grips with even the slightest token of any reasonable gun control. I encourage all poets to write about these ugly scenes.  It is our duty as well as our legislator’s duty to do something about it.   Please, Mr. President, do all you can to stop this tragedy. It was then sent to all our representives as well as our President.

The Killing Fields

The Killing Fields”
Stepping across these bodies
Makes me ill

Pools of blood stitched
In the soles of my shoes       

Body parts dripping from 
Walls where bullets passed

She went to school that day
Skipping and laughing along the way

Gunfire from hell
Unleashed in a fury of hate 
For no reason at all
Convenient it seems

Seven year old girl
Face half gone

Her mother weeps
They did nothing

Stepping across these lifeless forms
Makes me ill

Rivers of blood
Stain the asphalt

Two lovers embraced
In death 
Bullets passed through
Denying them life 

They went to a concert that day
Joking and laughing along the way

Gunfire from Hell
Rang down from above
For no reason at all
Convenient it seems 

Their parents weep
They did nothing

Stepping across these mangled forms
Makes me ill

Bodies slumped over 
In wooden pews

Riddled with bullet holes
Bibles in their hands

They went to pray to Jesus
Thinking everything right

Gunfire from hell
The open front door
All are welcome
Convenient it seems 

Jesus weeps
They did nothing

Stepping across these mutilated forms
Makes me ill

Bleeding bodies 
Screaming kids

Bisected limbs
Coughing up blood

It was their first date
Popcorn and cokes

Gunfire from hell
Came from the stage door
Down the aisles he strutted
Convenient it seems 

Defying reason
They did nothing 

Don’t you understand
What doing nothing 
Has done?

Complicit you are
No leadership you show
Your arrogance defies wisdom
Don’t you give a damn?

Maybe, if the dead 
Were one of yours?

No??

I’m going to guess
You’re too %#&! vain 
Makes you guilty as well                             

Stepping across these bodies
These bodies covered in blood
These bodies without faces
Ties a knot 
Deep in my heart
Makes me ill

Blankets cover the dead
We don’t have to look
Yet we’re part of the scene
Living in fear
These killing fields
Make me ill

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Nancy Kaufman June 15, 2023 at 2:05 PM My poem was called A sacrificial lamb. It's considered one of my better poems on this site. Lon Wartman June 15, 2023 at 3:22 PM Just finished reading your poem. I like the title as it has opened my eyes to the Sacrificial aspect of gun violence. I believe I'll do a poem on it. Tks for the thought. I have put together a chapbook of my anti-gun poems but haven't decided rather or not to publish it. Maybe one of these days.

Nancy Kaufman June 15, 2023 at 2:01 PM Hi Lon, I agree that every one needs to be more actively speaking out and writing about these senseless acts of violence with guns.I think I know I wrote a poem in 2019 about a young victim of a shooting.