The First of October, the Invasion
in the wee night hours
a tragedy occurred in our city
“a horrific mass shooting” they said
“the biggest in history”
jason aldean was on stage
“when she says baby” he sang
little did we know the psychotic rage
when ethereal gold met a hammered bang-bang
the cowboys danced
the cowgirls woooo-ed
confusion was just a glance
then the fear slowly grew
a dizzying portal was opened
there was disbelief and doubt
pop-pop-pop! met shrieks of denial
“that’s not a gunshot!”
we stayed up all night watching
anxious adrenaline pumping
not able to imagine the terror unfolding
shatters and clatters
people ducked, people ran
men covered their women
their bare-back-shield could be their only plan
a single soul lifted twenty people
over that tall blockade
we don’t know if he survived
but, o’, the lives he saved!
makeshift stretchers were made
from concert barricades
strangers wounds were held
by anonymous, bare-handed band-aids
we are Vegas strong
we shall not be torn
mojave dwellers united
we are battle born
by Desirée Dawn Solis
10/2/2017
The Second of October, the Village
Sheriff Joseph Lombardo
our Morning Cup of Joe favorite guest
earnestly guided us through those wee morning hours
when we knew nothing, at best
“ten firearms” they reported
from the 32nd floor!
“he’d never shown violent tendencies” said his brother, he swore
“an asteroid that fell out of the sky,” as he told us more
“no criminal record”
everything had changed from an hour before
first Raiders then Knights
on our neon homeland
but now blood on-site
we’re dealt this dead hand
Facebook became our cyber-golden fleece
to help & protect with the greatest of care
we sheltered stranded Strip strangers
not a sofa or bed to spare
a call to arms! the day after!
“we need more blood! more tissues!
more food and water please!”
donate where you can, how you can, what you can
band together, this is our community!
love, light and prayers to those who’m we've lost
and to their families enduring, o’ the terribly cost!
let us water your tragic family drought
we shall Harvest this passion with love, we will sprout!
our Route 91 devotion shall never wage
we will remember this day, even in our wee age
together we can achieve
the greatest gift of all
to give to our village
to hold strong when we fall
by Desirée Dawn Solis
10/2/2017