Friday’s events invaded my thoughts this weekend, pushing all else aside.
December 14, 2012
punch in the stomach
knocked clear across the room
struggle to inhale
heart dragged along
this tortuous, familiar road
bleeding, broken
mind numb
questions with no answers
can’t wrap around it
words turn to ashes
live embers in my mouth
choking tears
the soul longs
to erase the horror
protect the babies
tied in knots
powerless to console
the inconsolable.
realization
cannot change what is past
what about the future?
wabi sabi ~~~ poems and images 
Very intense, emotional work. My own Poetry Pantry poem this week relates to the killings as well, even though it was written long before it happened.
LikeLike
Eloquent and heartfelt…takes my breath away reading it.
Just came from church, where a young boy, Kjell, turned 7 today and we sang Happy Birthday.
Innocent of the world events.and carefree. So tiny (and he’s tall for his age) and vulnerable.
Thank you…one for the book of memories and meaningful poems I keep.
LikeLike
So very true that realization cannot change what is past…..and for sure, have we / has the world learned anything for the future. A strong poem here. One of the best I’ve read that deals with the recent tragedy.
LikeLike
Oh, how the soul does yearn…
LikeLike
You have captured the horror well. I wouldnt change a word. A horrible event and your question is an important one, that needs an answer. I always hate the words “so this never happens again.” Because the words alone wont make it so.
LikeLike
So much heart in this–very emotional and moving
LikeLike
there is a breathless restlessness in the lines, produced by the harrowing events, which conveys our sense of clueless dismay about how many more of these are waiting to erupt.the poem is a grim success.
LikeLike
ah… a powerful poem. I’m trying to work on a piece and I feel so sad and horrified and your words touched me deeply… it’s like you’re speaking directly to my heart. I was even questioning why I wanted to try to write about this and your poem answered the question.
LikeLike
Extremely strong and powerful poem ~ sending you healing hugs ~
(A Creative Harbor ~ aka ArtMuseDog and Carol ^_^
LikeLike
There is very little else to think about now. Heaviness of heart is so intrusive.
LikeLike
you are courageous to sit writing. so emotional. i move one moment to the next and the enormity of loss is in every step i take. thank you for being here today as a voice of grief, for truly we must grieve and better together than alone. thank you too for ending on a note of responsibility to the future, its been a long time coming.
LikeLike
You have “spit” this out well and we echo your powerlessness to console.
LikeLike
You wrote from that grit-level of what we are all thinking/feeling. I think we should all ask ourselves ‘What about the future?’
LikeLike
Powerfully emotional and well done.
LikeLike
I am so grateful that you shared this, just as raw as it is, it is true and real and from your heart. Nothing could polish this into something that it is not, grief, despair, helplessness, and with that final breath, hope… thank you.
LikeLike
It’s so hard for the heart to accept and come to terms with, I cannot imagine how those parents and family there are going to cope. This needs to end and the politicians need to make new laws to help end it by not making guns so freely available.
Heart felt, sad, sickening.
LikeLike
That, of course, but we also need to provide better care for the mentally ill and turn off the constant barrage of what passes for news. This epidemic across our nation has multiple complex causes. All need to be addressed for us to get relief from this plague. Thank you for your comments!
LikeLike
You are completely right. Such a tangle of mismanagement and new needs to address! I will write my legislators to get on with it.
LikeLike
This has been a tough week for all of us ~ Thanks for sharing them ~
LikeLike
Yes, what about the future…
we are tied in knots~
It is sad, so sad
well done
LikeLike
tied in knots
powerless to console
the inconsolable
…powerful!
LikeLike
nice one – you keep it fresh
LikeLike
Each stanza spoke my heart and mind along with the physical illness such a knockout brings. I love your ending that looks forward to what we might do.
LikeLike
Oh, how the heart aches…such an amazingly real write. So well done.
LikeLike
The soul longs to…protect the babies. You’re right, this is the natural way of things, protect the babies, protect the children, protect those less fortunate.
Well said, my friend.
K
LikeLike
Reading between the lines one can hear the sobs interspersed between these strong statements.
LikeLike
This is really good.
LikeLike
Yes. Powerful. Yes.
The Day’s News
LikeLike
Familiarity can often be torturous.
You managed to capture an immensely hopeless feeling. The word choices made the emotions truly potent.
LikeLike
This is hard-hitting and carries real intensity. Especially the lines:
the soul longs
to erase the horror
protect the babies… I’m sure we would all like to turn back time on this incident.
Thank you for sharing on Real Toads.
LikeLike
your words really bring the emotions to the forefront. well done!\
♥
LikeLike
Emotionally charged, everyone were just overwhelmed. Nothing prepared us for this, where young lives were the ones who took the brunt. Truly said Wabi!
Hank
LikeLike
very emotional write – from the first punch to the final question.
LikeLike
Reading this puts us back there. You really capture that feeling of hearing such horror. You are right:
mind numb
questions with no answers
can’t wrap around it
LikeLike
It sums up the feelings of the last Friday so well.
LikeLike
I like your last two stanzas particularly.
LikeLike
Powerfully emotional. Very well written.
LikeLike