Ode to Dayton

you may have heard

about my city

splashed across headlines:

nine dead

dozens injured

from terror in the night

but you may not have heard

about the heroes

shielding others with their skin

and you may not have heard

about the peacemakers

singing in blood-covered streets

look beyond those headlines

and see the beauty

in our ashes

watch how quickly we rise

with golden wings

to soar into glorious light

*Published in The Dayton Anthology