Why Are We Afraid To Try? Poem by Jim Yerman

Hurricanes are massive…they devastate cities, homes…and more.
But hurricanes are natural disasters…we can't stop them from coming ashore.

We have come to realize that hurricanes, swirling off the water, are the norm…
So we try to build our houses better in hopes they stand up to the storm.

Tornadoes wipe out entire neighborhoods on a scale wide and grand.
But tornadoes are natural disasters we can't stop their blowing across the land

We realize that tornadoes, across our countryside, are the norm
So we try to make sure our buildings have basements to take shelter from the storm.

Earthquakes crumble buildings in an instant…entire cities from the quaking
But earthquakes are natural disasters…we can't stop the ground from shaking.

We realize that earthquakes will destroy our cities, destroy our towns
So we try to make our buildings stronger in the hopes they won't fall down..

Another mass shooting has brought us all to tears…causing sorrow, causing woe
We can't understand how anyone can take a gun and kill people they don't know.

Innocent people murdered from every walk of life…
They are someone's child, someone's grandchild…someone's husband…someone's wife.

They were out for fun together…why they were shot…they know not why…
One minute they were laughing…they did not expect to die.

They were soldiers who have fought in wars…across other countries they have roamed…
How could they survive the terrors of a war…only to be murdered in they're home?

These mass shootings continue to dishearten to break our hearts…and again we are appalled…
Mass shootings are certainly disasters…but they're not natural at all…

We may not be able to stop people from killing…perhaps we never will…
but we have it within our power…to make it harder for them to kill.

If we can better prepare ourselves for natural disasters
I have to wonder why…
When it comes to mass shootings…and automatic weapons…
why are we afraid to try?