I saw it there,
right there on the wall,
“Don’t forget the killin’”
I did,
I saw it.
The sons, grandsons, cousins,
brothers, childhood friends
who happened,
just happened
to jump into the wrong gang,
And now they’re the enemy.
Don’t forget the killin’
Children who can’t play outside
’cause their mama’s afraid,
they won’t stay alive.
No mom should have to watch
the life drain out of their baby
Or worry
if they’ll grow up,
And jump in with their
cousin, brother, or friend,
so they won’t be hunted down
‘cause they’re the enemy
Burgers on the grill,
laughing, singing, talking
at the family gatherin’.
A drive-by doesn’t mean
you’re grabbing a Happy Meal.
A dark car draws closer to the house
looking for their victims.
Guns come out as they scan the yard.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
People go
diving, hiding, dying.
Children become unintended targets.
Some not even old enough to know
they should be scared.
Innocents killed,
because they don’t ask for ID as the bullets fly.
Don’t forget the killin’
Mama, what do you have to say?
As your baby walks over the passed out bodies
on the living room floor
from having too much fun last night,
yours in the middle.
He walks alone out the door to school
because he wants to escape so bad,
he’ll find his own way out
Don’t forget the killin’
Social Worker, what do you have to say?
Moving him place to place
like it’s a game, and
he’s just a chess piece.
But he won’t win.
He’ll end up somewhere he feels he belongs.
And he don’t forget the killin’
Teacher, what do you have to say?
Thinking he can’t read ‘cause he’s lazy
when the letters jump,
and he can’t hold them still on the page
no matter how hard he tries.
He hits the end of road
in the school bus with nothing.
Don’t forget the killin’
Boss man, what do you have to say?
Wouldn’t hire him because he couldn’t read,
but mostly
because you were afraid,
your customers would be frightened away.
Don’t forget the killin’
Uncle, what do you have to say?
You needed him so bad to take your drugs
to the hotel door.
Law wouldn’t hit him hard.
He was only 16 with no juvey record.
Don’t forget the killin’
I don’t forget
as I hear his Grandma.
Hurt so bad to hear her say
“Baby, I begged you,
begged you not
to die.
Don’t get the way of the bullets”
I said,
“but you did.
The blood stain on the sidewalk
is the only thing left, and
it reminds me of where I held your head
Begging you not to die.”
I see.
We’ve failed him.
We saw it on the wall.
Please wipe it from our minds,
Or let us save ’em,
And stop the killin’.
What do you have to say?
—Mary Morton
