Eileen Manassian Poet Dramatic Monologue

Shoes On the Lawn

Shoes on the lawn
every single one
a reminder
of someone
no longer there
cause no one would dare
speak out or decry
yet tears haven't run dry
so there they are
a colorful panorama
it's not frivolous drama
this is real
Feel...
Each pair's a silent scream
of a parent's shattered dream

empty places
grief stricken faces
empty seats
No after school treats

empty beds
because of the empty heads
of politicians who are fed
blood stained money instead

shoes on the lawn
night goes down to dawn
a mother cries
another student dies

shooters shoot
emotionally unstable
undetected, they are able
mentally deranged
from society estranged
they roam in the land of the free
more guns is NOT the key
what about the stats
all those bloodied facts

other countries? not the same!
Here mass shooting's a game
BS is the name
to give to the excuses! What a shame!
A shame!

Look....See
Shoes on the lawn
Don't just stand there and yawn
put aside your pride
Think of all who have died

Look...see
The next pair of shoes 
could belong to me
or to you
there's so much you can do
you know it is true

You can help stop the madness
and help heal the sadness

Oh...how my heart aches to see...
those shoes...
those multicolored empty shoes
scattered on the lawn...


Eileen Manassian

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Richard Lamoureux May 16, 2020 at 8:10 AM In canada, they just banned 1500 types of guns. There are so many people trying to fight the law. It makes me sad.

Richard Lamoureux July 16, 2018 at 9:08 AM I was amazed at how many shoes were on the lawn.

Caren Krutsinger May 4, 2018 at 7:17 AM A powerful message. I feel like the government is all about the money now, over saving children's lives. How sad. How pathetically sad. You wrapped it up in your poem in a wonderful way. But will they see it? Even if they did read this, are they wise enough to understand? Well penned.

Poet Tacito April 4, 2018 at 9:20 AM This hits way too hard for me. I despise my country a little more each day. There is a fantastic video game called Wolfenstein and its sequel highlights the fall of America to the Nazis due to sheer complacency. They did little to push back. They let it happen. Things are slowly becoming that way.

Richard Lamoureux March 25, 2018 at 7:37 AM This protest was significant imagery. It is good that you are providing more awareness. The NRA seems to have a chokehold on the American people.

Andrea Dietrich March 24, 2018 at 4:37 PM wow, a POWerfully expressed poem, Eileen. It could be entered into that social issues contest except that he asks for free verse, dang it. I really like how you speak out against guns. It's a SHAME and the NRA is a sham! Eileen Manassian March 25, 2018 at 8:12 AM Andrea...I wrote this not knowing about the contest. As you know...I'm not so much into contests. I write what inspires me. Thanks for the visit. Yes..NRA has more control that imaginable. It's a shame. March for Our Lives is bringing the heat on. Thank goodness for that.

Maria Williams March 23, 2018 at 8:15 AM I couldn't agree with you more Eileen. You would have had first hand experience in your travels. Thank goodness in Oz we got rid of guns a long time ago. Well elucidated...Maria xx Eileen Manassian March 25, 2018 at 8:11 AM I wish American would take you folks as an example. I can't fathom why it's taking so long. Thanks for the visit, dear.

Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart March 18, 2018 at 11:00 PM So powerfully penned Eileen! It boggles the mind. Excellent poem. xomo Eileen Manassian March 23, 2018 at 6:52 AM Thanks for the visit, Maureen. Much appreciated, dear.

Harry Horsman March 18, 2018 at 5:37 PM This is truly amazing poetry, Eileen, empty beds, because of empty heads, a statement so powerful. The shoe theme really does bring it home to the reader. Eileen Manassian March 23, 2018 at 6:52 AM Thank you, Harry. This was an actual event that was staged on the White House Lawn. It was on the news. Seeing all those shoes made my heart ache.

Viv Wigley March 18, 2018 at 2:32 AM In the name of peace something or someone has to give. In this case, nobody is prepared to, and here lies the sorrow. A fine, strong write, Eileen. Viv x Eileen Manassian March 23, 2018 at 6:51 AM Sorrow...yes, deep sorrow. I can only imagine the pain of losing someone in such a senseless way. I lost my mother to a disease and still am dealing with the pain of that, how much more the pain of a senseless death.

Agnes Krampe March 15, 2018 at 10:29 AM Powerful poem, Eileen. When is it finally enough? Eileen Manassian March 23, 2018 at 6:50 AM I wish I knew the answer, Agnes. Complacency and corruption will work to make that not now, I'm afraid.

Line Gauthier March 14, 2018 at 4:23 PM A very strong message and powerful poem. Well done, Eileen. Eileen Manassian March 14, 2018 at 4:45 PM I hope some good will come from this gesture. I saw it on the news...so many mass shootings. When will there be a change? Thanks for the visit.

Anne-Lise Andresen March 14, 2018 at 3:32 PM - A powerful writing, Eileen - Weapons are not a toy, that everyone should own - Reminds me of the night my mother died ... the first thing I did was putting away her shoes ... (my mother loved shoes and handbags) - hugs // Anne-Lise :) Anne-Lise Andresen March 15, 2018 at 3:42 PM Trump // dump ... the man is crazy Eileen Manassian March 14, 2018 at 4:47 PM Yes...not everyone should have one, definitely. Trump wants to arm the teachers with guns to prevent mass shootings. What happens when a poor teacher has a nervous breakdown due to some family problem and he/she is quipped with a gun? A teacher sometimes can't know who is the trouble maker in class.....let alone take out a shooter. I don't know how this seems to be so prevalent in the US. Something must be done.