'No Going Back,' by Cathy Cuenin

The radiance

of the harvest moon

is harsh

on our anguish

and there is no going back now

yet I want to turn

to earlier

before this full moon

before the tragedy

to change the rules

the program

and layout

the broken window

to sit a while

watch the waxing moon

grow fatter

engage with the shooter

and to chat

no

not chat

to listen

and then

listen some more

Would I have heard?

— From the book, “Poems for Las Vegas” (https://kitsap-publishing.myshopify.com/products/poems-for-las-vegas). The royalties from the book go to the National Compassion Fund, established by Clark County, Nevada, and the National Center for Victims of Crime for the collection and distribution of funds to benefit the Oct. 1, 2017 mass-shooting victims and their families.