15 November

Stop the sirens (please).
Have the police wait
A little longer (please). Our students
Must be allowed to grow, to love, to have

Enough resilience and guile to protect
Our school, our community—our country—
Nothing remote, but right here at home,
Young and assailable and more; (please)

Or the passion shall be reduced to mere
Utopian escapades—polite, manageable, and
Superfluous—interchangeable echoes
Crying out in accordance, making copies of

Love in all its instrumental functions, but
Elusive in foundation and
Escaping all hopes of humanity.

Dale Chou
2012-11-17