Brunswick Book of Peace

Knowing

After the news they show
the pictures:
photographs of those who were

killed.

Their posed faces look serious and formal.
I try not to imagine
what they might have looked like when they

died.

This used to be a time when I changed the channel,
watched a cartoon.
But tonight the silence hits me.

Because I know.

I know the twenty-six year old man
in the crisp blue uniform and white hat,
its brim shadowing his eyes,
is only one of
thousands.

The silence never bothered me before.
Tonight it seems to scream.
I try to feel helpless and innocent -
to pretend I don't know why.
But I know
it's because now
I know.


Charlotte Briggs
Arrowsic