18 of them, small
for bodies under 4 feet
lined up
with 6 full-size bags
how we tidy up loss
so neatly
& lifted easy
but only the flesh
is light
not the arms
that lift it
you can’t cart away
loudspeakered screams
they still ricochet
but now, they rest
they will wait, silent
they way only the dead
know silence
unable to count the tears
as easily as those lives lost
& the bags that hold
what’s left
Susan Daniels Poetry 
Susan I especially liked the ending.>KB
Thanks, KB. Wish I did not have to write this.
I can’t bring myself to click like but your poem sums up this tragedy so well, the innocent lay slain once again while other defend the right to bear arms but that is a discussion for another day
It is, oh, it is a discussion for another day. Please do not click like.
A shame indeed for soon like dust
This will be swept under the cushioned carpet of politics… Money…wrong disguising as certain amendments or freedom…
Ikun Le abiamo( the pain and hurt of a mother) who sends her child to school echoes in my head… My heart unable to comprehend what the mothers and fathers of these children feel… Anger…hurt…pain all rightly so…
In a season of peace, goodwill and joy… Such tragedy bestowed to the least of these… The least of us… Our children… Our future…
A shame indeed if like columbine, aurora Colorado, and shopping malls across America we sweep this under cushioned carpet in name of politics…selfishness disguised as forward agenda!!!
Oh, Lord, Boomie–this CANNOT be swept under the rug. It is that mixture of love for my own kids and imagining what those parent’s are feeling right now that is killing me. Lord.
May their deaths cause a change in the land!
It must! It has to. Why does it take this, something like this to effect change?
I have shut my office door to weep
for children that will now forever sleep
when they should still be wakeful
and laughing full of life so playful
I have shut my office door to weep
for children that now will never sleep
laying in their beds fearful and wakeful
when they be filled with laughter joyful…
I have shut my office door to weep.
and I sat at my desk and cried
imagining the silenced voices
the broken innocence
the sacrifice made
to the mad God that would swallow
the blood of children
Yes – it is incomprehensible
It is. Thanks for commenting. your poem was so powerful.
I heard a song on radio a few minutes ago by Casting Crowns and my heart cried… Lost in the mystery… God is already there…
Yes.
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so sad Susan I am disgusted with what happend
Me too, Doris. I have no words to describe how sad I am.
Enough…
The loss.
Enough.
The politics.
Enough.
The unspeakable grief.
Enough.
Speak now…
Enough.
Yes, too much.
Human beings: capable of such wonderful, and such terrible things. A brave poem. Thank you for this.
Thank you for reading. This whole thing is heartbreaking.
so so sad…
Yes, my heart goes out to the families.
This is from a very distraught parent.
A grieving parent.
A very very sad and broken parent
I am choking with tears of grief, pain, anguish I not sure of what I am writing
Pat Chenayi Nyandoro
Hon, I know, I know. I cried too. Those children and their teachers who died today deserve our tears, I think.
This is us, broken.
We create the parameters within which madness can operate. If we cannot protect those amongst us with burgeoning skills at life, if we need to protect them from us, what the hell kind of world have we created?
A world I do NOT want to live in, and a world I am scared to send my kids out into.
Predators everywhere. We tamed so many creatures, but not ourselves.
Yes, and I wonder if we can.
So choked up – we only heard this morning.
Understood. Just an awful, awful thing. These are all our children.
Susan this gave my goosebumps…I hate this all with every whisper of my soul
Me too, Audra.
oh heck..that brought tears to my eyes susan
Mine too, Claudia. Our poor, poor children.
Can’t find words, Susan.
Thank you for this.
Miriam–thank you. No more, I swear.
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Ow, so harrowing.
Thank you, Celestine.