The divide

 You began the year, waiting on the same street corner.

The children playing, abuzz with excitement for a new year.

Then the separate corners came, standing alone, no play.

What mean word made you come apart, what divided?

Now you stand on opposite corners of the same street.

Never to meet and let the children play, you have taught.

Taught them it is better to stand idle the to play and mix.

It is the example of the wider community, lost.

Lost in the divides instead of our connection.

The same community, the same small house,

The same fear when the gunshots ring out.

Yet here we stand on opposite corners of the same street.