It was an isolated incident,
The circumstances rare.
An unfortunate occurrence
And not a cause for fear.
It’s not a case of wrong or right
And won’t occur again.
What happened that specific night
Was less than one in ten.
Emotions must be kept in check.
Feelings have no place.
Passions must not riot.
Restraint’s the saving grace.
The next time will be different.
The sun could well be out,
Or it may be raining,
Or amid a drought.
The names will all be different,
The living and the dead.
Running, from or at them,
And what they’ll say he said.
It could happen in the street
Or walking through a park
Or driving on the highway
Or whistling in the dark.
Fifty years have come and gone
Since our cities burned.
Everything is different now.
Everyone has learned.
Isolated incidents.
Circumstances rare.
Unfortunate occurrence.
There’s no need to fear.