Home » Poems » L Milton Hankins » Blot Out His Name

Blot Out His Name

Pure evil appeared in that Uvalde, Texas classroom Dressed in the blue jeans of a typical teenager, Or was the AK-15 the evil that brought such doom On either, I suppose, a rational person might wager. Dressed in the blue jeans of a typical teenager A mere boy influenced, perhaps, by a video game On either, I suppose, a rational person might wager I think we’ll never know exactly what was to blame. A mere boy influenced, perhaps, by a video game Was his anger directed at his fourth-grade teacher? I think we’ll never know exactly what was to blame, What turned him into this despicably evil creature. Was his anger directed at his fourth-grade teacher? He killed 19 children; he didn’t even know their name What turned him into this despicable, evil creature? Was he merely seeking his fifteen minutes of fame? He killed 19 children; he didn’t even know their name May history blot out his name, may it never be known Was he merely seeking his fifteen minutes of fame? May journalists swear that his face never be shown. May history blot out his name, may it never be known Or was the AK-15 the evil that brought such doom? May journalists swear that his face never be shown Pure evil appeared in that Uvalde, Texas classroom! Written May 29, 2022

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Caren Krutsinger

Date: 6/2/2022 4:06:00 AM

Yes Yes and Yes "Was he merely seeking his fifteen minutes of fame?" A coward walked into a grade school......

L Milton Hankins
Date: 6/2/2022 9:53:00 AM

Caren, every time I hear of one of these senseless tragedies I think of your school and the school where my ex-daughter-in-law teaches fifth grade. It could happen anywhere. When I was growing up, and even later teaching, it was an unthinkable thing. Now, it is commonplace. Do you have a place where you could hide from a potential shooter?

Sara Kendrick

Date: 6/1/2022 11:40:00 AM

Creative way to tell the most recent story about this tragic event. It is not the gun's fault for sure. A person had to operate the gun. Help needs to start in the homes when children are young so that the young people who might become this type of person can be helped and guided to a better way of life. I enjoyed reading your work. Sara

L Milton Hankins
Date: 6/1/2022 12:22:00 PM

I do appreciate your thoughts, Sara, but I must remind you that had there been no AK-15 those little kids and their teachers would be alive today! We may see it differently semantically, but, make no mistake about it, guns DO kill! If there were no such thing as firecrackers no child would lose his/her fingers by playing with them on holidays.

Ann Peck

Date: 5/30/2022 11:15:00 AM

One of his long-time friends said he had been bullied his whole life because of a speech impediment. He finally chose to distance himself from everyone. I'm not making excuses, just trying to understand motivation. Video games and hate TV no doubt share blame.

L Milton Hankins
Date: 5/30/2022 11:30:00 AM

I hear you, Ann. I think an important point is that we cannot know what goes on in the mind of a teenager whose thoughts are not always accurate, well-formed, or well-balanced. I'm not sure this young man was capable of discerning a proper course of action for his discontent. We'll never know why because he isn't around to tell us.

Marco Chies

Date: 5/29/2022 2:42:00 PM

Perfect.

L Milton Hankins
Date: 5/29/2022 4:09:00 PM

Thank you so much, Marco. This tragedy has upset me so much!

Tom Cunningham

Date: 5/29/2022 2:09:00 PM

I just can't understand what would drive someone to do something like that. He can't have been right in the head. Tom

L Milton Hankins
Date: 5/29/2022 4:10:00 PM

Tom, you are so right about that. He must have had some deep, wide warp in his brain.