If it was your kid… (a poem written by Efxaris Arampatzi)

If it was your kid, would you sleep at night?
Would the weight of their absence feel heavy inside?
Would their name echo through the halls of your mind,
Or would you just bury the truth with your lies?

If it was your kid, would you call it an accident?
When it’s a system ruled by idiots, not that innocent
Would you still count your money while mothers still weep,
As fathers stand silent, too broken to speak?

If we knew how messed up these trains were,
Do you think we would still put our family and friends in there?
If it was your kid, you would not
But now you act like you don’t have a heart and say “Why not?”

If it was your kid, would you beg for change?
Would you scream in the streets, raw with rage?
Would you carve their name into a cold, lifeless stone,
Or would you fight for justice so no more die alone?

But it wasn’t your kid, so you turned away,
Made your excuses, thinking everything would be okay.
But we are still here, we won’t forget,
For 57 souls, we’ll scream ‘til the end
On every 28th of February, on every regular day.

Dear government, if it was your kid… would you still look away?

(This poem is about the tragic Tempi train collision which happened two years ago on 28/02/23. Please stay informed and if you’re joining a protest, stay safe.)