Mother This Mourning Poem by Martin Byrne

Mother this morning I woke up and rubbed the sleep from my eyes
I got out of bed and looked in the mirror at a face that I despise
I put on my clothes, some old pants and a shirt
And traveled to my school to have my soul rubbed in dirt
They say bad things about me mother they call me names and laugh
I think what hurts the most though is no one helps, not a student or the staff
My dream is the same. I walk, darkness encloses me so deep
So dark that even in front of my face, I could not see my feet
Mother this morning I thought what I’ve been thinking for three months
How I’d like to repay the people that make me feel like a dunce
I think about going to your closet and getting the gun you bought for protection
But I would make use of it for another purpose… to cure my hate infection
I should probably get to the point
Your ears I’ve caught and I wouldn’t want to disappoint
My dream is the same. I walk, darkness encloses me so deep
So dark that even in front of my face, I could not see my feet
Mother this morning I took a gun and I pointed it at another boys head
I looked him in the eyes and this is what I said
“Sir, you have mistreated me in the worst way you ever could
You taunted and insulted and never once understood
I didn’t you need to like me, I didn’t need you to care
But a smile to me, on your face, you never once did share
Because of you my dream is the same. I walk, darkness encloses me so deep
So dark that even in front of my face, I could not see my feet! '
Mother this morning I shot an innocent boy dead
And then I turned the gun around and pointed it at my head
Mother this morning I leave this apology note on your bed
The rest of two boys lives, will never ever be lead
Mother if there is one thing you could do for me, it’s to not cry or weep
Because finally, finally in all the darkness, I can see my feet.