shells.

from the suburbs

to the cities

the air is

thicker

and smells like

smoke

loud cracks

and pops

and so much more

often

turning the skies

more grey

flashes of light

like a violent

storm

we wish for the children

to collect beautiful

memories

jars with

fireflies

and seashells

but it seems

they will collect

instead

shells of a different kind

and rather than compare

colors

and shapes

they will compare

calibers

and their childlike wonder

will question

where did they

come from

and where did all

those bullets

go

...