Better Than A Gun Poem *

By Christopher J. Jarmick

I load words

into the barrel

of this traceable

but unlicensed

poem.

When I pull the trigger on this poem

the words will hit their target

without any innocent bystanders

being hurt.

It is superior to the gun.

The words might be misconstrued

and ricochet

but no one will be rushed

to the hospital.

If someone intoxicated

shouts these words

at shoppers in the mall

or towards cars driving by

or at students in a school cafeteria

no blood will be spilled.

If a man wearing a badge

has an altercation with a protestor

no one gets murdered.

When this poem is left out

on a kitchen table

and it is touched by a

curious child,

no tragedy will result.

It is superior to the gun.

*It seems appropriate to dedicate this poem

to all victims of senseless shootings particularly

Alex Pretti and Rene Nicole Good. 

Christopher J. Jarmick - owner of BookTree Kirkland's independent new and gently-used book store --Creative and Freelance Writer, impresario, investigator, creator, Poet, Author of Not Aloud (2015 MoonPath Press). PoetryIsEverything Blog.