desolation

pulse

i am so sick of politicians
who broadcast their condolences and sorrows
and so-called sympathy
when they choose
protecting guns 
over
protecting people.
we cannot live
in a world where
a place of safety
and refuge
becomes
a slaughterhouse.
these 49 people?
they had a pulse.
and then a violent man
with a violent gun
took that away.
and the 53 others?
their pulse
barely beats.
i have heard
people claim online
that what happened in
orlando was a
hoax.
this is my response to that:
why don't you
go ask 49 families
if it was real?
why don't you
go listen to 53 survivors
tell you how much fun
it was pretending?
how much they
all enjoyed it?
no amount of
wishing
or talk of
conspiracy
will wash this away.
it was very real.
this is not the first time.
this kind of
violence
has made an appearance
many times before.
these politicians,
they have
power
and an access point
to help and try to make a
change.
they have
the location
in this country
to do something.
there are many things
that have to
change.
there are many people
who have to
be educated.
there are many issues
that have to
be resolved.
it was not
islam
or the lgbtq+ community
or immigrants
that did this.
a misled and conflicted and
hateful man did,
accompanied,
and influenced by,
his gun.
speak up,
stand up,
against
homophobia,
transphobia,
islamophobia,
sexism,
and racism.
being hateful
will not help.
love.