Children Killing Children

By Gloria Hoglund

I wrote this in October 2003 after the killings at Cold Spring, Minnesota. A high school freshman brought a gun to school and killed two other boys. One death was "accidental" as it occurred from a bullet that ricocheted – the other boy was the target. Three families were changed forever. With the fifth anniversary of the Columbine school killings having just passed, these words came to my mind once again.

Children killing children,

Useless waste of young lives.

Another media feeding frenzy.

Is there a way for us to learn?

When one child cries out in agony

We all lose.

When will we grasp the anguish of one child?

Whose gifts haven't been launched?

We all lose.

The vulnerable exposed child; the outcast.

Who doesn't fit the current trends, taunted, teased

We all lose.

The child whose frustration, anger can't be contained,

Lashes out with predictable rage.

We all lose.

When children kill children

Shameful waste of lives.

Too late we ask, why?

We all lose.

Gloria Hoglund lives in Plymouth, Minnesota, and attends Gethsemane Episcopal Church in downtown Minneapolis, a progressive, inclusive congregation. She may be reached by email at g.hoglund@att.net .