Power of the Pen (in response to the Charlie Hebdo Shooting)

I remember when the pen was innovative--
Wrote the classics,
Composed the epics,
Scribbled satirical plays and poems.

I remember when the pen was thoughtful--
Pondered philosophy,
Questioned the impossible,
Challenged the norm.

I remember when the pen was sword--
Slayed injustice,
Decapitated corruption,
Massacred the malevolent.

Once an ink-soaked quill,
Now pen is gun.
Firing bullets
of prose
of poetry,
of illustration and expression--
free expression.

Now, enemy fired
with tangible bullets
of hatred,
of pride,
of cruelty,
The pages bleed,
The comics cry in agony.

Now blood-soaked, the page
is stained red
red seeps into each word
and for a moment
the message is no longer seen.

Another moment,
the page,
like a sponge, absorbs each blow
and the message becomes coherent,
engorged,
empowered

In hundreds
in thousands
in millions and more!

All for expression.
All for humanity.
All for freedom.

Je suis Charlie.