To Genesis Reid, a Small Town's Tragedy

Genesis,

Happy birthday

You would have been three a few days ago

(or, you did turn three then, wherever you are)

The houses all over the city

The county, the state

Everywhere

are lit up pink for you

All down each street

Glowing

Flaming bright

Like birthday candles

Like the Christmas lights that were still up

When. . .

Did you like pink?

Do you like pink?

I hope you liked pink

I hope someone told you happy birthday

Before. . .

They probably didn’t

It was months away, back then

March 9th

Worlds away from that December 25

But, 

Listen, sweet child,

Dear Genesis,

We love you

The whole town loves you

The whole city

The whole state

Even those of us who never knew your name

Until that Amber Alert

Broke through our quiet February morning

And you deserved better

You deserved a mother who. . .

You deserved mornings after that Christmas

You deserved to turn three

To turn four, five, six

To grow up in this small city

Where everyone knows everyone

Where you should have been safe

Where I thought was safe

I thought nothing like this would ever happen

Not here

Not in my small town

But FBI is here

But police swarmed through the city at first

Genesis, so many people came to visit you!

So many friends. . .

They were looking for you

We were all hoping

Hoping to find you safe

Hoping that someone had taken you 

Somewhere warm

Somewhere with toys and snacks and cartoons

Somewhere you could laugh and play

We didn't want to believe 

What we know now

We didn’t want to believe

What your mother. . .

I'm sorry, Genesis

I'm so sorry

And, Genesis?

One last thing,

Before we let you go and play?

This whole town,

We grieve for you as if you were our child

Goodbye Genesis

We love you

and. . .

Merry Christmas

Happy Valentine's day

Happy birthday

and every holiday you won't get 

With love,

The city glowing pink

The city of progress