Assigned

one ripped with shrapnel
one shocked with awe
under a house, a building
at work
one in the market
a child taking candy from us
one standing in line for a job
a policeman
a dozen on a bus
in a search in the back bedroom at night
a shooter
keep adding
keep counting
when do you get to a thousand?
when do you get to 10?
when do you get to one hundred thousand?

just make it one - just say the one I watched
burst forth into this world
and I would hate you always

Can I say I am sorry?
Can I cry as I  count?
Can I try to count backwards?
How many times?
How long would it take?
Could it be just that one lifetime?