A 7-year ago honorarium to those lost

When I was a much younger man
my father died and
my children, who were children then,
asked “why”?.

I told them he had gotten sick
and couldn’t get better.

I knew not death then.
I know not death now.

I listened today to the seventh
reading of the names to heaven sent, and
wished I could tell the grieving
what the slaughter of their innocents
meant.

I knew not death then.
I know not death now.