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Sandy Hook Tribute

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In memory of the Sandy Hook Elementary school shootings.  Thank you to Judith S for the inspiration behind this poem.

The Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting occurred on December 14, 2012, in Newtown, Connecticut, when 20-year-old Adam Lanza fatally shot 20 children between six and seven years old, as well as six adult staff members. Prior to driving to the school, he shot and killed his mother at their Newtown home. As first responders arrived at the scene, Lanza committed suicide by shooting himself in the head.

The incident was the deadliest mass shooting at either a high school or grade school in U.S. history and the fourth-deadliest mass shooting by a single person in U.S. history. The shooting prompted renewed debate about gun control in the United States, including proposals for making the background-check system universal, and for new federal and state gun legislation banning the sale and manufacture of certain types of semi-automatic firearms and magazines with more than ten rounds of ammunition.

(Wikepedia)

 

In memory of:

    • Rachel D'Avino, 29, teacher's aide
      • Dawn Hochsprung, 47, principal
      • Anne Marie Murphy, 52, teacher's aide
      • Lauren Rousseau, 30, teacher
      • Mary Sherlach, 56, school psychologist
      • Victoria Leigh Soto, 27, teacher
  •  
    • Charlotte Bacon, 6
    • Daniel Barden, 7
    • Olivia Engel, 6
    • Josephine Gay, 7
    • Dylan Hockley, 6
    • Madeleine Hsu, 6
    • Catherine Hubbard, 6
    • Chase Kowalski, 7
    • Jesse Lewis, 6
    • Ana Márquez-Greene, 6
    • James Mattioli, 6
    • Grace McDonnell, 7
    • Emilie Parker, 6
    • Jack Pinto, 6
    • Noah Pozner, 6
    • Caroline Previdi, 6[
    • Jessica Rekos, 6
    • Avielle Richman, 6
    • Benjamin Wheeler, 6
    • Allison Wyatt, 6
Cruelly taken by a heartless act, gone without a chance to say goodbye. Innocent souls roam the heavens, safe from the harsh realities of life. A mother's eyes overflow with tears, wondering if God comforts her child tonight. A father clings onto a photo, reminiscing the last time he embraced his child tight. They gaze at twinkling stars in hope, wondering if it's their child's eyes sparkling bright. On a silent night they can still hear their child's laughter, echoing in the horizons. They ponder if twenty children still meet in heaven's playground, jumping on clouds. Hoping angels sing sweet lullabies, just like a mother's serenade. All the fragrant flowers in heaven, yet there is no scent like a mothers'. Softness of angel feathers could never replace her touch. Gates of heaven so magnificent, but there is no strength like a fathers'. Warmth of angels could never replace his embrace. When an innocent child prematurely leaves this world, a parent's heart is forever fragile drowning in sorrow, for there is no pain like the loss of a child. Silent One 19 December 2017

Copyright © | Year Posted 2017




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Date: 3/1/2018 4:05:00 PM
Lovely, sad, emotional. A very fitting tribute. Regards // paul
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Silent One
Date: 3/1/2018 4:06:00 PM
Thank you Paul..
Date: 12/25/2017 3:27:00 PM
Very moving poem of remembrance, SO. I agree w/Jonathan ... so poignant and prescient. A call for sanity well expressed by the grief revisited in this emotional gem of a poem. Thoughtful poetry at it's best. Love and happy holidays, my dear friend.
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Silent One
Date: 3/1/2018 4:07:00 PM
Thank you Freddie..
Date: 12/23/2017 5:42:00 AM
Excellent piece of poetry with wonderful expression, ...........
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Silent One
Date: 12/23/2017 10:57:00 AM
Thank you Reza
Date: 12/21/2017 4:21:00 PM
Such a delicately moving tribute, S.O.! Janice
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Silent One
Date: 12/22/2017 4:08:00 AM
Thank you Janice..
Date: 12/21/2017 12:28:00 AM
Silent, this is so touching and heart breaking, and the music is lovely, you wrote this so beautifully, there are really no words to express my horror but there are my tears falling, a wonderful tribute, I wish the families could read this.
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Silent One
Date: 12/22/2017 4:12:00 AM
Yes it is sad, thank you for you comment BW..
Date: 12/20/2017 9:49:00 PM
Lovely tribute, Silent! I am glad you posted all the names. So sad. Pains us all and they should not be forgotten.
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Silent One
Date: 12/22/2017 4:13:00 AM
Thank you Kim..
Date: 12/20/2017 7:14:00 PM
what has stuck with me is the nation didn't react in a manner due this sadness, thank you for this poetry and remembrance
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Silent One
Date: 12/22/2017 4:14:00 AM
They never do Frederic, I wonder if they would, if it was their children... Thank you..
Date: 12/20/2017 5:07:00 PM
So very sad. A beautiful poem for the children and their loved ones. This delivered, at such a time of the year, when they must be feeling the loss and loneliness unfathomably. Perhaps a poem relating to the back-story on the perpetrator, the boy and his family. Thank you for sharing and reminding me of these children, their families, the staff of Sandy Hook and the mother and the boy involved.
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Silent One
Date: 12/22/2017 4:21:00 AM
I was thinking about that, but I thought it would come across as controversial.. Obviously something went horribly wrong in his head to commit such crimes, and I remember some writing about his perspective, one got arrested, the other suspended from school... Thanks for the feedback..
Date: 12/20/2017 3:04:00 PM
So well said in an emotional poem. It's good to remember even in this season. I can't imagine the grief, Excellent SO!!!
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Silent One
Date: 12/20/2017 3:51:00 PM
Thank you Mike...
Date: 12/20/2017 1:31:00 PM
This is a very good tribute, Silent One. I do not think I have read one this good and I have read several on this topic. It was great how you honed in on the children being in heaven's playground and yet even that cannot replace the love of their parents.
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Silent One
Date: 12/20/2017 3:52:00 PM
Thank you Andrea.. that is a great compliment..
Date: 12/20/2017 11:30:00 AM
Beautiful...
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Silent One
Date: 12/20/2017 3:53:00 PM
Thanks
Date: 12/20/2017 8:32:00 AM
Great tribute SO. This really was a sad day that I remember too well. As a parent losing my daughter is my greatest fear.
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Silent One
Date: 12/20/2017 3:54:00 PM
Yes same here.. Thank you James..
Date: 12/20/2017 7:31:00 AM
SO, such a beautiful, sad tribute. This poem really touched me this morning. Thank you for sharing. John
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Silent One
Date: 12/20/2017 3:54:00 PM
Thank you John..
Date: 12/20/2017 7:16:00 AM
Such a deep poem SO... It brought tears to my eyes.Such a sad write but beautifully written...
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Silent One
Date: 12/20/2017 3:55:00 PM
Thank you..
Date: 12/20/2017 2:49:00 AM
Humanity should be ashamed of itself for allowing crimes like that happen, especially when there are victims who are innocent children. Your poem dear Silent One, awakes horrific memories that we try to forget but at the same time makes us vigilant so as to prevent future slaughters. Your poetic ardor is the best monument erected in our collective Psyche! Congratulations for not forgetting the angels that fled in terror from earth.
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Silent One
Date: 12/20/2017 6:28:00 AM
I agree Demetrios, and how sad they bicker over stupid things, but do not take gun control seriously.. Even though, this kid may have had a chance to get a gun anyway, but he used his mother's weapon and sadly she perished also.. thank you for your comment..
Date: 12/19/2017 8:26:00 PM
Silent One, 'Tears In Heaven' has moved me to tears for years, as did the heartbreaking event of Sandy Hook, and, as does your heart-aching write.. Your precious poem is a beautiful tribute to those cherished and lost that horrible day. An emotionally elegant and eloquent write my talented friend.. ~Susan
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Silent One
Date: 12/20/2017 6:27:00 AM
Thank you Susan..
Date: 12/19/2017 6:25:00 PM
You can say it like none other!
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Silent One
Date: 12/20/2017 6:26:00 AM
Thank you sun..
Date: 12/19/2017 5:37:00 PM
Truly a beautiful dedication for a barbaric act.
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Silent One
Date: 12/20/2017 6:25:00 AM
Yes it was.. Thank you Harry..
Date: 12/19/2017 5:21:00 PM
I wore green every Monday for them. That was the color of their uniform... I'm no parent so I could never measure up to their pain but my heart is just as broken as the parents. Those little darling angels are for sure jumping on clouds. Silent One you touch all of our hearts with this beautiful and heartfelt poem! Hugs and loves :)
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Silent One
Date: 12/20/2017 6:25:00 AM
Thank you Kina..
Date: 12/19/2017 2:31:00 PM
These precious souls you have named will never be forgotten. I can't even imagine the pain of those involved. Your tender poem brought tears to my eyes Silent. Beautifully expressed! I know Christmas must be the most difficult for all of the families. Your poem honors their memory eloquently! : )
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Silent One
Date: 12/20/2017 6:23:00 AM
I hope they are not, and no parent will ever forget.. Thank you Connie..
Date: 12/19/2017 12:41:00 PM
- Tears both on earth and in heaven, S.O. - A beautiful heartbreaking writing - hugs // Anne-Lise :)
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Silent One
Date: 12/20/2017 6:20:00 AM
Thank you Anne-Lise..
Date: 12/19/2017 12:37:00 PM
Hi Silent, You have penned such a heartfelt piece. It not only moved me to tears, it moved me deeply. My heart goes out to all of the ones that lost their lives from a senseless act of violence. The song by Eric Clapton" Tears In Heaven" was the perfect song to accompany this well written piece. Excellent tribute my friend- Alexis
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Silent One
Date: 12/20/2017 6:19:00 AM
Thank you Alexis, I thought the song fitted perfectly to the poem..
Date: 12/19/2017 12:13:00 PM
Very profound one, S.O. It moved me to tears...
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Silent One
Date: 12/20/2017 6:18:00 AM
Thank you Flower...
Date: 12/19/2017 10:12:00 AM
Unexplainable things happen...Only God knows why... A lovely dedication to those who have passed before us...
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Silent One
Date: 12/20/2017 6:18:00 AM
I think also the killer will know why.. So sad what happened.. Thank you..
Date: 12/19/2017 8:57:00 AM
"Innocent souls roam the heavens, safe from the harsh realities of life." That is probably the only thing that could comfort a grieving parent. I can't imagine the pain. Lovely tribute, Silent.
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Silent One
Date: 12/20/2017 6:17:00 AM
Thank you Becca, your tribute is also amazing..
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