Guess what I learned in school today, Mama?

You just won’t believe

‘Death’ jumped out of a library book

And forced me to my knees

“Do you want to die today?”

Is what the trench coat asked,

I hung my head in fright and said my prayers fast.

Guess what I learned in school today, Mama?

That if you stare into the shark eyes of ‘Death,’

And he glints right back

You’ll see your whole life pass before you,

The entire weary path.

Guess what I learned in school today, Mama?

That I should feel lucky not to be numbered with the dead,

Knowing that for the rest of my life,

This nightmare will live on in my head.

I learned,

That wicked souls do indeed plague this earth,

…wandering…

…plotting…

…revenging, avenging…

…enacting whatever rationale explains their death curse.

Oh Mama, I learned that the library no longer harbors books for learning,

But rather “Gates of Hell”

Where two vicious souls are now burning

For their twisted rationale.

I learned that our schools have become war zones,

A direct reflection of the dysfunctional homes

From where these evil monsters came,

And that the media, music and internet are really not to blame.

I’ve also learned that torrential, apocalyptic death rains

Will continue to pour down on the children

And that nothing will ever be the same,

For the slaughter of the innocence

Will happen time and time again,

As long as there are those who perceive life as

The beginning of the End.

Mama, I did not want to learn these lessons,

These harsh lessons of Death.

I did not want to see my best friend shot through the chest

Just hold me, love me, protect me,

Tell me “it will all be okay,”

Please, just let tomorrow be a better day.