~
You're not here today.
The sirens, the police, the news,
they all say what I can't comprehend.
I just can't.
I don't understand.
How you went from being
full of life and love,
in awe of the wonder of each new day,
filling me up
til my cup was spilling over
with the indescribable
joy of being a part of your life,
your safe haven, your mom,
to nothing.
A void, an open chasm
in my chest where my heart used to beat.
I'm filled with numbing rage
that the world keeps turning
and people keep living,
but you're gone.
How do they go on
knowing your sweet smile
will never return?
How do I breathe
without the feel of your
little arms squeezing me
tight as I kiss you good night?
It confounds me.
Because you were taken,
your light snuffed out
by anger and pain
and a small chunk of metal.
You were there and now you're not.
I don't know how to go on
without you.
My lungs are heavy.
My limbs are numb.
My head is angry.
My heart stopped beating along with yours,
and only one word repeats like a mantra,
pounding through my skull–
why?
____________________________________________________
This is dedicated to the tragic loss of so many beautiful souls snuffed out by mass shootings. Everytime I see these tragedies unfold, my heart breaks. I try to put myself in their shoes, those that are left to pick up the pieces and go on, and it's unbearable to me. I hope I never have to find out. Sending love out to the world. ~H
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Comments (29)
So beautifully expressed, Heather. Heartbreaking and so true 💕🙂
Beautiful, heartbreaking testament, Heather. <3
Why, indeed... So very heartbreaking beyond words.
Wow! This is an emotional and intense piece that’s beautifully written. Well done ❤️
💕😔
WOW! There is so much truth in the emotions released by your words. When will our leaders gain the courage needed to do the right thing. It breaks my heart every time this happens.
Very relatable, cause it’s all was an illusion 🥹🙁
Very powerful Heather. Heavy but necessary.
Send hugs and support, feel with you
I will never be able to understand the need for violence or war especially against the innocent. Animals tend to have more humanities than humans. Thank you for writing this poem my dear friend 🥺❤️
Beautifully written about a terrible constant. Sadly a constant. When will this stop being such a constant.
As a society, we are now numb to this violence. So long as people keep thinking "it won't happen to my kid" we can pretend that all is well. As cruel as it is to say, until an NRA board member loses their kid to gun violence/school shootings, there won't be substantial change.
This one hit close to home. We lost our son at the age of 18.5, not to gun violence or school shootings, but to a car accident. My wife & I will never forget that evening when the two highway patrol officers arrived at our door but would not speak to her until we were both there together. I am glad that you have not gone through such an experience yourself. While it is good to have someone who can accompany you in their grief (& you in theirs), not a one of us would wish that anyone else should have to join our fraternity/sorority. Thank you for your sensitivity. I have to admit that you have imagined our thoughts & feelings with a great deal of accuracy. Blessings to you.
Oh my. This took my breath away. These tragedies are felt nationwide and you put this perfectly into words. You are so gifted. This definitely brought a tear to my eye. 🥺 Amazing job.
Wow!! So emotional. So sad 😢
This kind of violence is so hard to comprehend. Even more baffling our country’s apparent acceptance of these events and unwillingness to compromise about limiting access to guns. The worst case scenario has happened over and over and over and I just don’t get it. Thank you for writing this. It is important to face these things and to ponder why.
😭Thank you so much for this… it expresses so well the fears in our hearts. I’ve been stuck in a fog since hearing about this 😞
Bang and boom to my heart, and this is just...well. I hate that I go poetic analyst on things but...man...sad, beautiful, angry, but still poetic. I know it's relatable, and you penned it so masterfully. Just...yeah...time to stop mumbling.
Perfect, my friend.
so many Y’s, what if’s, we should’ve, yet hearts ache within we who don’t comprehend, very sad yet beautiful tribute my friend 🥲
Beautiful words Heather. Thank you for writing it. Someone posted the meme that said the world would be better if people listened to poets more than the politicians. ❤️
❤️
A heart-wrenching, but honorable tribute. 💕
Well, now I'm sobbing. Feels like no words could express that pain, but you did a masterful job expressing emotions that no one should have to go through. Great job translating that pain into poetry!
A tragic but well-written poem. I hope none ever have to feel what you describe.