i'm sure you all have heard by now

i'm sure you have all heard by now what happened in newtown ct. this is a word for those poor, innocent kids who did nothing to deserve their fate.

it's still in color
but slowly, the ink is fading
soon only outlines of
black
and
white
will remain
then
nothing
but
shadows.

the images of the fallen
still crisp and fresh in our minds
smiles bright with white and pink-stretched-tight

even though our hearts will remember
the edges of the mental photos will start to curl
the paper will wrinkle.

it was all so real
so alive
before something dark came and
turned off the color

with that small touch of black
zipping through the air
cutting off dreams
slicing off hopes
killing
generations
and
generations.

no amount of candle light
colorful shrines
or patches of bright eyes
will turn off the dark
that will forever blind us

from the rainbows of innocence
that were
our
children.

but no wall of darkness
could ever be strong enough
to strip our souls
of what we will always remember
as
the light
that drove
their spirits

free

after a gentle rain

wrote this originally on October 2, 2011

i love how

after a gentle rain

the sun rays poke through

and everything is not dry

but still damp.

i love how

after a gentle rain

the gravel crunches under your feet

but the carpet of grass

wet from dew

is silent.

i love how

after a gentle rain

the water is still and clear.

i sit at the dock

letting my feet dangle over the edge

so my toes rest just above the surface.

i love how

after a gentle rain

the air is sharp and crisp

and it smells

just like a

new morning.