After the Shooting Stops —by Jinny Batterson
After the shooting stops,
We mourn the dead,
Tend the wounded,
Grieve with those who’ve
Lost family or friends.
After the shooting stops,
We wring our hands and wonder:
Better gun laws? Tighter borders?
Better mental health care?
Better communication? Less alienation?
After the shooting stops,
We take a deep breath,
Hug someone close,
And remember how good
It is to be alive.
After the shooting stops,
We do our best to be kinder,
To appreciate the little things
That add up to so much.
After the shooting stops,
If we finally let compassion outstrip
Our need for revenge,
Our sorrows can shade into forgiveness,
Giving us a way forward.
Jinny's Occasional Poems 