Pain changes all.
It puckers lips which can no longer speak.
It furrows brows and narrows the view.
It buckles the knees, threatens our fall.
There is so much pain everywhere,
enough to spare, too much to bear.
Pain always wants out,
it erupts in a shout,
“Make it stop!”
“Stop!”
“Just stop!”
Does anyone hear?
Too many continue
to pour salt in the wound.
Too few seem to care.
Too many press fingers on spots
that pulse too hot
until pain explodes and we drop
to our knees as we plead,
“Make it stop!”
“Stop!”
“Just stop!”
Human angels run by
and try not to cry
as they sound the alarm
and beg to succeed
in stopping the harm.
U.N. food trucks are bombed.
Opposition leaders are killed.
Weather tells stories
to gain our attention.
The earth pleads as do we,
“Make it stop!”
“Stop!”
“Just stop!”
annarino writes 