after Newtown (peace on earth)

In talking about
the end of the world
and human civilization
by tidal wave or solar flare,
my young son whispers
kids are too young to die
as my heart simultaneously
wilts and blooms.
I reply, yes, far too young
and brush his hair back
from a pretty forehead
clean of bullet holes,
stifle a moan by swallowing.
One heartbeat later,
my child bemoans those humans--
the ones he thinks
will finally realize
the planet is overheating
just about the time
his own children are grown-- 
and describes his child
wiping her own sweaty brow
as future apologists cry
What have we done?

My occasional music prompt to the Real Toads today features "The Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth," performed by Bing Crosby and David Bowie.