Thirteen Souls

by Anthony M

Thirteen unknowing souls seconds from their fate
thoughts of returning to their friends and families,
wanting to return to normalcy before it's too late
back to the land of freedom to do as they please.

In the ordinary afternoon of an early November
another sinister soul, filled with hate and anguish,
soon he would give them all a day to remember
leaving only the question, how could he do this?

Shots boomed and echoed loudly, commanding attention
pain and suffering delivered with cold and cruel intent
delivered by one of their own, defying comprehension
thirteen souls taken, a shocked nation left to lament.

Mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters,
relatives and friends, pondering why their loved one had to die.
How could this man steal their lives, such a senseless slaughter
Thirteen souls taken from us, millions left to weep and cry