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Forty-nine bodies lay in Orlando

Morgues waiting to be promptly claimed,

Which forty-eight families did.

One, however, was too ashamed.

 

One body lay unidentified--

Alone, rejected, day after day--

Because a stone-hearted father

Objected to his son's being gay.

 

So intransigent, so consumed

By his intolerant, cherry-picked views,

A father preferred to leave his son lying

In a cold morgue. Heart-breaking news!

 

After the horror of the nightclub massacre,

Adding insult to injury that dad

Showed the capacity of the human heart

To lack compassion. How very sad!

 

Extended family of the young victim

Later convinced authorities to release

The body into their care, so now

The abandoned son can rest in peace.

 

For years did the son have any support

From his dad, or was it too much bother?

One thing we know without a doubt:

The son deserved a better father.

 

(6-25-16)

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

I agree. A child without a parent. A parent loss. Thank you for writing and sharing your thoughts on a sad topic. Every life need love and kindness.
Coyote