Our Thoughts and Prayers

Abstract

Our Thoughts and Prayers Cacayo (bio) To the 20+ children a day who are victims of gun violence in the United States of América. Now I lay me A Boy asks his older sister to buy him a gun. She says no. The Boy buys rifle slings, a military carrier vest, and optics . . . down to sleep The Boy posts about buying a gun and being a school shooter . . . I pray the Lord The Boy buys online 60 capacity magazines and posts a 10-day countdown . . . my soul to keep, The Boy becomes a Man: he buys two high-capacity rifles and over 2000 rounds of ammo . . . watch and guard me The Man texts that he will kill his grandmother and shoot up the Elementary School . . . through the night, The Gunman posts: I just shot my grandma in her head. Ima go shoot up a elementary school rn. [End Page 160] and wake me with The Gunman arrives at the School, shoots at two bystanders . . . Teachers call 911. the morning light. Police see the Gunman enter the School . . . (It's 11:33 a.m.) Almighty God, The Gunman fires over 200 rounds. radiant with light, Police enter the school as the Gunman continues to shoot . . . cast your goodness Gunman fires 16 more rounds in a classroom. to shine upon me. Police announce that Gunman is contained . . . .Gunman fires 11 more rounds. Most wonderful Lord, More Police enter the School . . . creator of all things, Police post that students and staff are safe in the School . . . hold your truth Gunman fires another round. More Police arrive . . . to shield me. Parents beg to enter the School. [End Page 161] Angel de mi guarda Police discuss what to do . . . oh mi dulce compañía A Student calls from a classroom. Twice. She whispers: multiple students are dead. no me desampares Police look for a master key . . . ni de noche ni de día Students call 911 again. They whisper: Children and a teacher are dead. hasta que me entregues More Police arrive . . . en los brazos Students call 911 again. They whisper: 8 or 9 students are alive. de Jesús Police Chief tries master key on another door . . . y de María Onlookers beg for action. Parents try to break the windows. Con tus alas me persigno Another Student inside calls 911. A Classmate whispers to him: hang up. The Gunman fires 4 rounds. y me abrazo de la Cruz Medics set up triage . . . Police search for a master key . . . [End Page 162] y en mi corazón me llevo A Student from a classroom calls again. She is told to wait . . . quietly . . . (It is 12:36 p.m.) al dulcísimo Jesús. [End Page 163] Cacayo St. Mary's College of Maryland Cacayo CACAYO (JOSÉ R. BALLESTEROS) is a Professor of International Languages and Cultures at St. Mary's College of Maryland. Beyond multiple publications in anthologies and journals, he authored the poetry collection Love Dust (Izote Press, 2014); and co-authored the Spanish letters textbook Voces de España (Cengage, 2014). Cacayo is the editor of Bolivian and Ecuadorian poetry for the Library of Congress' Handbook of Latin American Studies and is the founder and editor of the bilingual literary Press Zozobra Publishing. Copyright © 2022 South Central Review