Vigil

in this crowd of
neighbors
strangers
police
press
all pressed together
standing in the rain
outside the front door
of the home
of a little girl
shot while going
to get ice cream
i hold my candle
unlit
waiting for the flame to come to me

soon it will pass my way
i will reach out for the light
hold it high out of the wind and rain
and pray for the day when a child won’t be shot down in the street
a few steps from the
front door
of her
home