through the heart

shot through the heart
shot right through the heart

guns are subtle
   and sometimes bullets
      are
invisible.

commonly, the manslaughter
   is involuntary &
      often, the victim
         is a
child.

children wear their
   hearts out
      side like flowers on
   their
chests.

infinitely fragile & soft
      soft beyond the
   human
touch.

one day, the father
   rejects the daughter &
      chooses his
son.

the little girl walks
   gravely to the base
      ment & sobbing, her
   heart flower
dies.

the grandmother screams at
   her husband who
      runs away & loses his
mind.

   the weeping light in the
      heart of her grand
       son flickers
out.

is it the tone of
   the voice that
      kills? or the
   violence? or is

such pure wonder
   planted in this earth
      meant to
die?

we spend our lives
   searching for golden
      hearts & apologizing
   with flowers.

we mistake sex for
   love & generations of
      flower children never
   have a
chance.

Is it possible you
   were dreaming? that you
      never had a
   flower for a

heart? or so little
   tenderness remains that
      it doesn’t
matter?

if there is nothing you
   have found in this world to
      believe in
   believe in this heart
      flower.

start with a seed of
   forgiveness. plant it
      deep.
be thankful. nurture
   it every day. cherish the
       radiant flower &
pray.