Coming Home. Again.

After the parade

phones blow up

'where are you now?'

and 'were you close?'

.

After the parade

social media erupts

fingers pointed in

unified echoes

.

After the parade

people pack up

yellow taped barriers left

for investigations

.

After the parade

blood soaks the ground

doesn't matter if it's grassy knoll, concrete, or linoleum

doesn't matter if it's red state, blue state, subway, night club, movie theater supermarket hospital store restaurant campus park church or concert.

doesn't matter if it's a community celebration of independence

or on the eve of an elementary school graduation

.

After the parade

we count bodies

blame fatalities

then shuffle along to the next slaughtering.

.

Highland Park is my home. So is Uvalde.