Shots Fired Poem by Michellina Cookington

Hi, my name is Aliea Shell, I'm six years old, I live on, Thirty One Hundred Greenville avenue. I always hear shots fired, I don't know what that means. It was March 17,2012. Mamma was making my hair pretty, we were on the porch. Me, my mama, and my little sister, she's two. A truck came by, not the ice cream truck, this one's mean. A man out the window, seven loud noises came out. I felt them all, I wonder if they know, that's how old I would've turned this year.

My name is Canvas, I'm 26, they say curiosity killed the cat, but I'm only human. It was May 26th gunshots, I hurried to my door to see a gun being aimed at a man on a bike, guess the street didn't teach him to shoot, cause now I see my own blood running lose, do you believe in second chances?
My name is Josh Anderson, I was 14 when I killed an innocent bystander. I didn't know he was married, with two kids two years younger than me. It wasn't my fault, I'm in the 8th grade. I seen my enemy point the gun at me. It's kill or be killed, I shot him 6 times. I'm gonna do life for this. It wasn't even my gun it was my brother's.
My name is Audrey Brown, I'm 39 years young. Five years ago I was almost buried 6 feet deep. But I survived, right arm slightly paralyzed, my left leg with a limp. But I got four kids, my 12 year old, my 9 year old, my 8 year old and 4. I had to change my life, But on May 9th, somebody decided otherwise. We ordered pizza, shots wrung out. My spouse ran out, followed by my 8 year old who says,
"Mommy get up! "
My heart breaks.
"I'm sorry baby, no third chances, it's time for mommy and the angels to go dance."

Ashen Rogers I was 33 shot and killed May 20th.
Joseph Goldman I was 18 shot and killed September 18
Yolanda Holmes, a grown woman, I was 45 shot and killed November 14th
David Jerome Scott I was 31 shot and killed May 21st
Ana Ortiz I was only 16 shot and killed April 30th


There are too many of us shot and killed every year by gun violence. We wish we could silence the violence. What's wrong with the world? Senseless guns, and gang violence by the misguided.
We pray our killers look in the mirrors and see our souls with the bullet holes they created. Still, I hope they find peace and enjoy the temporary hoodfame. Everyone can respect the shooters but then once under the gun is forever.