response to sandy hook

Olly Olly Oxen Free

Friday crossed
the two-lane
highway

near where
the hill
steepens

and sixty
years of
views

have grown
dense with
silent color.

I see you
then hear
you're    gone.

Olly
olly oxen
free.

There's
        no
turning

back
  after not
returning,

    after
standing
in the void

alone.

We have
been
     made

to finish
walking
behind you

   touching
fear
and the caliber

of an unexpected
shove into
the graveyard

of instinct.
You can
come out

now,
you can
come

out,
take my
hand,

Saturday,
why won’t
you come out?