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photo via pxfuel/Creative Commons

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Nashville (the long day ends)

when you get on your knees and pray
and wonder if prayer does any good
because guns will always be guns
and kids will always be kids
and only god knows human nature
and rational thought

because he created it

and prayers can only help the living
not the dead
just as a rainbow is only good
for those who watch it and
believe

so i say a prayer and wish for a rainbow…

that prayers will stop guns
and love will prevail, where rational thought
doesn’t

and that maybe a child will look at the sky
and still believe in dreams

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Erren Kelly is a three-time Pushcart nominated poet from Boston whose work has appeared in 300 publications (print and online), including Hiram Poetry Review, Mudfish, Poetry Magazine, Ceremony, Cacti Fur, Bitterzoet, Cactus Heart, Similar Peaks, Gloom Cupboard, .and .Poetry Salzburg.

Click here to read “Under Quarantine” — COVID-era poetry of Erren Kelly, published by Jerry Jazz Musician

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Listen to the 1954 recording of Duke Ellington playing “All Too Soon” [Universal Music Group]

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Click here  for information about how to submit your poetry

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