33 for the hearts of the children

for the hearts of the children,
the last to harden,
the last to exhale
for the pounding
hearts of the children, waiting,
the hearts of the children of
uvalde,
of sandy hook and stoneman douglas,
for the hearts of the children
of columbine,
for the hearts of the children
of sharecroppers,
for lgbtq+ hearts, biracial hearts,
ukrainian hearts, american hearts,
for all that makes up these children,
their hearts,
longing for peace, breaking to see
the vile villainy in
a typical day.