the clock is ticking

and i am very afraid

afraid to live

in a world where i probably won't see my old age

in a world where nuclear war, global warming, and people killing innocent children is all the rage

for about a week

until the news has a new obsession to seek

 

the clock is ticking

and at six years old we should not be reciting our abc's

as we hide where a bad man cannot see.

I thought that everybody was welcome at school

why can't the man with the toy gun can't come in too?

 

the clock is ticking

and my heart should not drop in fear
when i hear that all the metal doors at my brother's school
have been replaced with wide glass windows.
perfect to let in light, air, bullets, and a lovely view of the world outside.

 

the clock is ticking

and what’s wrong with my generation? What’s wrong with yours?

“hide under tables, lock all the doors!

But sorry you won’t get legislation that’s secure”

 

the clock is ticking

and while you're behind a glass windowpane,

some were protected by what could withstand hurricanes.

And you should not have to be prompted for empathy

can't you see that these teens have been through enough?

 

the clock is ticking

and if my friend can take one look at his campus and infer

in the event of an armed intruder,

the juniors would be the first to go

Because uh oh there's no escape from the basement classrooms

because to some, the media is only fake news.

 

the clock is ticking

and i should be worrying about what i'm going to wear tomorrow

or if that boy i pass by in the halls will notice me

I should be staying up all night studying for chem

Instead of sobbing under my sheets at 1 AM

worrying if this day is going to be my last.

or if a gunman were to come he'll just walk past,

maybe forget why he's here or maybe he'll just disappear into thin air.

 

the clock is ticking

and i will not be silent.

because valentines are for chocolates and candy hearts

not the feeling of your soul get ripped apart

you knew this boy,

he might not have been your friend and to be honest you suspected

that he could be your end

 

the clock is ticking

and i will not be silent

because at concerts all you need to hear are beating drums

not the beating of your racing heart

as bullets reign from up in the sky, you sang of God only moments ago so why

is He punishing us like this?

 

The clock is ticking

And I will not be silent

because clubs are partying hard and spending the next morning in the bathroom

not cowering with 22 others inside a stall

waiting for the gunfire to come to an end and you only came to have a nice night with your girlfriend

and you can't tell if this is her blood or yours

 

the clock is ticking

and the glass walls are shattering.

but my bullets are words

and i will not go down in silence.