What Could Have Been At The Newtown Shootings Poem by elysabeth faslund

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Place: morning before the shooting
Place: student's home
Reason: to present a different position on the NRA, from the current one around
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Child-'Dad, finished the oatmeal. Time for school.'
Dad-'Good for you! '
Child-'But I really don't want to go. There's a man hanging round the school'
Dad-'What is he doing that makes you afraid? '
Child-'Drawing maps. Writing stuff. He comes inside sometimes.
Dad-'When is he there? '
Child-'All the time...now.'
Dad-'Would you like me to walk you there? '
Child-'Well, since you're an ex-Marine, why don't you bring your gun in the safe? '
Dad-'That bad, huh? '
Child-'Dunno. Just makes me feel weird.

Dad always took his daughter seriously.
The wildest tales always held truth.
Getting his handgun from the safe, safety on,
he took his daughter's hand,
and they walked to Newton that morning.

There he was, like his daughter said.
Scroungy looking sort. But he wasn't drawing today.
Had a duffle bag at his feet. Kept looking at it.
Dad clicked the safety off.
And when the man got the rifle out, aiming,
Dad put one clean shot through his head.