I need a tree For an umbrella Its branches The spokes Its leaves The fabric A little rain To touch My head My arms Not enough To drench Just enough To mix with My tears Shield my heart From the drops Too heavy to bear Falling like sorrow From the sky For the lights Of the innocent Once again Violently Senselessly Extinguished
Delicate petals Painted purple And white Pale yellow Center Completing The bloom
Caught my eye In a moment Of exhaustion A welcomed pause To catch my breath What is your name? Need to keep moving A quick photograph To research later…
Images of you Graced the walls Of a coffee shop Artfully framed Thoughtfully Displayed Carefully labeled With the answer I was seeking
Kneeling down I read the card Unexpected Sadness At the realization Your name is Forever tied To a senseless Act of violence-
Columbine-
Delicate petals Painted purple And white Pale yellow Center Completing The bloom-
You and I have A difference Of opinion As far as Differences Of opinion go Since an opinion Is quite often Not completely Based on facts Perhaps we could Put this one aside Yes, it seems Important now Emotions heightened With every discussion But is it worth dismissing each other? Flesh and blood Heart and soul Isn’t it worth attempting a connection? If our hands could Briefly touch Surely our hearts Would follow
President Biden spoke last evening concerning the epidemic of gun violence in our country. His words expressed sadness, compassion, and anger. His call to action was passionate as well as logical.
So many lives were lost. Families destroyed. Are we so stuck and stubborn in our thoughts and opinions? Is there no room left for compromise? I refuse to believe that is true.
I have a storage closet inside my music classroom. Shelves lining both walls hold musical instruments. There are stacks of chairs in one corner and drums in the other.
At various times in the year, certain sets come out.
There is a narrow walkway between the shelving.
More than once this school year, I’ve glanced in there with the following thought: would I be able to fit an entire class of students in here? I’m not sure. If I quickly moved some things out. But would there be enough time?
That is where I stop my spiraling thoughts. Any further, and they’d be unbearable.
Every day, I stand on the sidewalk outside my school. Along with colleagues and student volunteers, make sure kids get safely to their cars.
Several times during the year, I almost left my phone inside the building. But then one thought would invade-what if something happens? An emergency? And quickly, I’d put my phone in my back pocket.
I’m not the only one carrying the weight of such thoughts. But we rarely talk about them. Until another tragedy occurs and we realize it could have been our school, our students, or our friends.
I see the sweet faces of the Uvalde, TX victims in photos shared by loved ones. I see the desperation in the sobs of those left to mourn and question.
My heart breaks.
But my sadness quickly turns to anger as I listen to sound bites. As I hear political figures speak of rights instead of solutions, perpetrators instead of victims.
There are solutions. And please don’t tell me there are no laws or policy changes that would affect this epidemic of gun violence in our country. There are. And they are logical. Why do we refuse to take a stand in their favor? Well, that’s a matter of the heart.
Another School day Filled with Laughter Learning Love Shattered By sounds Gunshots Impact Screams Cries for help Violent deaths Followed by Silence- Children Teachers Hiding, frightened Training put Into action Training That should never Have been necessary For actions That should never Have occurred
When will we decide enough is enough? When will we choose love instead of hate? When will we weep instead of arguing?
Mourn for Innocent lives Left lying On the floor Of the very place They should have been safe
Today was our last day of school. Smiles, tears, good-byes. Ready for summer break. I drove home, exhausted. And then, I heard the news of another school shooting at an elementary school.
Listening to the reports was heartbreaking. And then there was a comment about training. The fact that students and teachers were hiding as they practiced. The same drills I have had to discuss or practice with students. It should not be this way. 💔
Way too young Senseless death Gun violence Once again This time I can’t ignore Won’t let my heart Become numb This time I can see The one left behind Her heart Broken into pieces That may never Fit back together No matter The time That passes- Right now The grief is fresh Eyes wet with tears At the mention Of her loss Or a gentle hand On her shoulder Don’t hide them Though they fall Because of loss They also fall Because of love
This story is one of many. Too many. Young adults ready to take on this world, taken too soon. Though it is not my story to tell, listening touched my heart. I could not walk away without taking time to acknowledge the grief, the hurting left behind. And also the love and strength showing through the pain. 💔
Piano Girl 