SILAS ABAYOMI

Silas abayomi

MAKE THEM CRY NO MORE:

When I remember those

painful nine months journey-

discomforts of those

three hundred days-

when I recall several hours

in labor room-the house-of-

torture-

when I look at the

three-year-weaning-period,

I ask: should parents lose a child?

Whenever I remember the

immeasurable labor of

day and night,

endless toiling-in the winter,

summer, autumn, and spring-

incalculable daily-child-care

between home front and secular job;

whenever I recall all those

formative years' infinite

assignment of parenting,

when I recall early lessons and

instructions of life,

I ask again:

should parents lose this child?

Whenever I recall the

first day at school-

the joy on parents’ faces,

which later turns to cry

as they leave their child in

a trusted hand-first time and

the baby replies with a cry:

I ask:

should parents lose this gem?

In no time, Pre-K schooling ends,

Kindergarten schooling follows,

like a streak of lightning-

Elementary school journey

is completed.

I remember immense investment-

all the schools’ supplies,

all home works done-night and day-

I remember all the schools’ projects-

books, journals, magazines read,

libraries, and thousands of websites

visited.

Finally, the day arrives-

Elementary school journey

is over-

transition to middle school begins;

I remember those three hard years-

as school works become

more challenging.

Language Arts replaces simple

English lessons,

algebra, chemistry, biology,

citizenship studies, history,

government operations at all levels

become subjects of study;

once again, I ask:

should we waste this

unquantifiable investment?

In no time,

another three years rolled by-

like a flash of thunder-

yesterday toddler is now a

senior high.

I remember the community-

service of a good citizenship-

volunteer services

to immediate neighborhood.

Hurray! Graduation and Proms-

are here-

as a wonderful future lie ahead-

madly, I ask: should we lose this

future prospect to shooting?

Investments are heavy,

pains are much,

emotional scars remain eternally.

Stop Shooting! Stop Shooting!!

Again, I say: stop shooting.

Let our children live,

let our future live,

let tomorrow’s scientists, astronauts

doctors, inventors, managers, and

future LEADERS LIVE.

Silas Abayomi