A Sonnet for Aurora

Aurora saw its darkest night descend,
An evening’s pleasure turned to cruel despair,
Some young and tender lives came to an end,
As screams of pain and terror rent the air.
The lovers’ hands, once gently, warmly held,
Now gripped each other tight, in sudden dread,
All youthful thoughts of love for now dispelled,
With overwhelming horror in its stead.
The saddest thing is, there were children too,
Who, bright with hope, excited, primed for fun,
Felt bullets burn their little bodies through,
Young victims of a mad assassin’s gun.
So now Aurora, stained with blood, must mourn,
And look toward a new and better dawn.