To The Teeth

I named this page after the Ani DiFranco song To The Teeth, which i'll post here later.

• ToTheTeethLyrics

i've been doing a lot of thinking lately about the school shootings, and the constantly rising suicide rate. i'm feeling like i should be doing something, and i know i'm not the only one who's been thinking about this. this is a large issue, how are the ways you cope with it? what actions have you taken or thought about taking? what's your opinion on why this is snowballing so fast? where do you think it will end? how will it end? will it end?

 help. she wrote it in letters across her journal 
 help. and in hindsight it is so clear. 
 but we can't help the ones who don't do any talking 
 but we need to do something before 
 they stop their own voice. 

 it scares me so so badly 
 this avalanche that we can't stop. 
 i don't know how you can walk onto school grounds 
 and laugh or smile 
 every campus sports some tragedy 
 some story of 'we never even guessed...' 
 how can our lives be so unsafe? 
 how did we let this rockslide get so far? 

 we don't we see it in their eyes 
 why don't we hear it in their voice. 
 why don't we figure out the answer 
 if we don't we'll all be dead. 
 shot down by children who should still be singing 
 songs of hearts and flowers. 
 but when 12 year olds write words that grow from pain 
 there is something wrong. 

 what's worse is this feeling of helplesnes 
 of hopelesness 
 but yet we have to have hope 
 we have to help, 
 there has to be something we can do. 
 just sitting back and watching while 
 the suicide rates climb 
 is killing all of us one by one. 
 it is so clear looking back, 
 help. in big blue letters. 
 help. the words they are afraid to say when they're backed into a  corner 
 by someone bigger than them 
 help. save us from the power 
 violence grants. 

 i have to do something to help. 

RoyaBoya

this is inspired by Tempest Smith, 12 year old suicide victim

Tempest

 Looking at yourself in the mirror,
 if you look hard you can see all the way through.
 Watching your eyes dialating, 
 the ice blue is dull like a misty morning.
 
 Hug yourself tight now, 
 Don't fall away to quickly.
 Hug yourself tight now,
 you're not dead quite yet.
 
 Looking at the moon through the window pane,
 if you look hard you can see yourself there.
 watching the clouds roll in like the ocean,
 shadows falling across your face.
 
 Hug yourself tight now, 
 Don't fall away to quickly.
 Hug yourself tight now,
 you're not dead quite yet.
 
 If I were looking down and watching you,
 I would wrap you up in my arms.
 I would hold you and tell you I love you,
 you're not dead quite yet.
 
 looking at your bed and pillows wet from crying,
 if you look hard you can see your death waiting.
 Watching your chest stop breathing, 
 clutching the bed with fear
 
 disappear like your joy of life
 disappear like all the pain
 
 Hug yourself tight now, 
 Don't fall away to quickly.
 Hug yourself tight now,
 you're not dead quite yet.
 
 let it wash away
 let it all fade
 fly away now
 let go, you will be safe
 I will catch you when you fall.
 ~Malia