Dedicated to the victims of yesterday’s mass shooting at the Clackamas Town Center mall in Oregon.
I wish words were enough to make the violence go away.

I Guess I’ll Look The Other Way

There are people running, screaming;
They’re scared, bleeding;
It’s not real, surreal;
I guess I’ll look the other way.

The sirens are flashing, beaming;
The police are herding, leading;
It’s just a game, blame;
I guess I’ll look the other way.

They said he had a mask, a task;
They said he wanted to hunt, to kill;
It’s his game, fame;
I guess I’ll look the other way.

Someone’s little girl didn’t go home, her home;
The doctors tried, she died;
It wasn’t her game, shame;
I guess I’ll look the other way.

It’s happened before, many more;
A theater, a school, another school;
It was a student’s game, lame;
I guess I’ll look the other way.

There are people arguing, deceiving;
Their rights come first, misleading;
It’s their game, their musket ball and chain;
I guess I’ll look the other way.

I’m supposed to look only meekly, discretely;
To feel remorse, just briefly;
It’s someone else’s game, not my game;
I guess I’ll look the other way.

But what if I don’t, won’t;
What if I stare, and glare;
It’s not a game, it’s pain;
I can’t look the other way.

Not anymore, no more;
I now stand and dare, to care;
It’s my pain, our pain;
I will no longer look the other way.

Should the world look away, the other way;
Then I’ll stand alone this day, today;
It’s not a game; it has a name;
Violence.
And it must go away.

— Eric Winger