Poetry by Raymond Hinton

Lost
By Raymond Hinton

Why live if living to die?
Our youth carry guns
like they’re in the U.S. Marines
murdering over nothing
a mind numbing genocidic disease
Why breathe another breath?
When there’s nothing to strive for
can’t go to the stores
that’s where the wars are being fought
Ain’t nothing safe when congregating
on them corners
Nowadays there’s only death
in broad day and night
Stop the violence, Increase the Peace
Idioms describing plight
Why speak when ears are deaf?
Babies dying in cribs, not from S.I.D.S.
But when strays eject
Life expectancy used to be 18
now we just hope to see elementary
let alone the eighth grade
It’s a shame!
When funeral homes (are) franchised like Chipotles
Burrito style coffins
stuffed with bodies not beans
Extinction level events
Snatching souls and dreams