19 cops

If there aren’t 19 cops standing in the hallway
to hear bullets tear through youthful flesh
we wonder
do the children’s screams still make a sound?

If we close down the grounds after 60 bodies drop
rename it
“community center”
will the people gather again?

If we blame mental illness
enough times for everyone to believe it
will there be any less shots fired?

How many mothers should be held responsible?
Why aren’t the fathers speaking up?

How many signs till we follow the post
down to its roots
and find them tangled in every reason?