Orlando

By Gueus Robert

Orlando, what has happened to you?
You are such a calm, stunning and, alluring place
One of the most visited places in the world
The home of Epcot Center, beautiful and magical
The favorite place of people who
Have a keen interest in science and the scientific method.
Those who made you bleed to death the other day,
Are nothing but covetous of your beauty
And your serene character
That made you the place of choice of children.

They have in an oppressive way taken
Advantage of your nonviolent and authentic qualities.
Puerto Rico, I know you too must be grieving.
The bloodbath that occurred
Took with it scores of your citizens
Who are proud to call themselves Puerto Rican,
The most beautiful place in the Caribbean.
I wish you my heartfelt condolences.

Orlando, Why would someone hurt you so much?
You have done harm to no one.
You are a spring of bliss and lore,
A place that satisfies the curiosity of children and adults
Who crave to know more about the cosmos.
I hope that time, the great healer of our wounds,
And the great dissipator of our anguish
Will heal you from such deep wounds
That have been inflicted upon you.

You will in a future not so distant
Regain your pride and your place as
One of the loveliest places of earth.
Since we all have learned in school
That out of Darkness comes light,
Out of bad things come good ones,
And that a crisis must not go to waste,
I hope that your wounds and your lost
Will finally give our legislators
The inspiration and the courage necessary
To finally enact legislation that will make the purchase
Of assault weapons felonious.

Such a bold and humane decision will once and for all
Put an end to the mass shootings
That have been taking place in
Our dearly loved motherland since 1984,
So what happened to you will never occur again.