tonight,
20 beds will be empty
the stuffed animals lying,
forgotten,
on the floor
waiting,
for an owner
who will never come back
tonight,
20 presents will sit in closets.
hidden carefully under boxes,
gathering dust
never to be
opened
tonight,
20 lives will be no more
gone
just like that.
never to fall in love
never to grow up
never to have children of their own
tonight,
20 hearts will beat no more
40 hearts will be restless with sadness
and all the hearts in America
will bleed
with
sorrow.
20 beds will be empty
the stuffed animals lying,
forgotten,
on the floor
waiting,
for an owner
who will never come back
tonight,
20 presents will sit in closets.
hidden carefully under boxes,
gathering dust
never to be
opened
tonight,
20 lives will be no more
gone
just like that.
never to fall in love
never to grow up
never to have children of their own
tonight,
20 hearts will beat no more
40 hearts will be restless with sadness
and all the hearts in America
will bleed
with
sorrow.