At a Loss

Someone’s child …

At a loss for a few days now, trying to wrap my head around how this same scene keeps playing like a bad rerun.

child's life
PARKLAND, FL – FEBRUARY 19: People visit a makeshift memorial setup in front of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on February 19, 2018 in Parkland, Florida. Police arrested and charged 19 year old former student Nikolas Cruz for the February 14 shooting that killed 17 people. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 775125216

At a Loss

With virtual thoughts and prayers not holding weight

and cause, the subject of debate

The human guild proceeds to reminisce

As doubt and anger still persist

 

It’s hard to endeavor to fathom why…

Why someone’s child had to die.

Why did we fail to stop this heinous violence,

Or protect our kids as worried parents?

 

The quick riposte is shadowed in withdrawal

With ghosts now haunting the marble halls

As savagery has detained our senses

with these monsters acting so pretentious—

 

We sit here now with nothing new to say

No words to vivify our saddened days.

It’s hard to reconcile with swollen anger,

To bear the rage or welcome rancor—

 

To scrutinize or censure evil’s face

as evil prides in wearing such vile disgrace,

Nonetheless, the struggle is overwhelming

and negligence itself, is clearly swelling

 

With discourse we try apologetics

crossing the sad shores of homiletics

In proposition with theorized planning

And in ostracized weapon banning—

 

Even notions of arming our lectors

Commending them the mark of protector

But with civil freedoms for the mentally ill,

We brainwash the weak to blame guns still.

 

How long can we galvanize the sick enabled,

Indoctrinating the blind with simple labels,

Blaming the gun, not the boy clenching the trigger

I think the issue has grown so much bigger.

 

Why is it implausible to speak of neglect,

the timetable that was left to wholly reflect.

The last time when parent and child would connect

Was it time enough for them to interject?

 

How quickly we write off the system as flawed,

with the conclusions made so foolishly drawn.

The law as read is not a pliable precept,

We can’t leave the maintenance plans themselves unkempt.

 

As information continues to evolve

How the bullets of blame were quickly devolved

And the system riddled with phony courage

is in desperate need of being refurbished.

 

How 4 minutes could mean your child’s life,

4 minutes to end such raucous strife

Cowards will hide in the guise of heroic raiment

and bear more arms for extra payment

 

We chastise the gun while removing blame,

Though the FBI knew the gunman by name

And though his health records say he is well,

The 17 dead have a different story to tell.

 

How epic the failure at every level

though the brave, they faced off against likely peril.

We honor them in homiletic sorrow

dreading the nasty truths that bring tomorrow

 

Paul Neglia
Latest posts by Paul Neglia (see all)
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Paul Neglia

Proud father of 3. Part time writer of poetry and short stories. I want to paint the world in but a few words.

8 thoughts on “At a Loss

  • February 23, 2018 at 5:47 PM
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    This is so heart-breaking, Paul. You express the devastating loss and pain so well. I feel the anger as to why and the debating about guns – politicians blaming the gun is idiotic. The gun did not go off by itself. The boy who pulled the trigger was known to be a danger to society and nothing was done. You have a great piece here, one that represents the thoughts, feelings and anger of many, including myself. I am very impressed and quite proud of you for speaking out, dear friend.

    • February 25, 2018 at 1:12 PM
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      Thank you so much Phyllis. It’s so hard to see this type of thing on an almost weekly basis this year. It is hard to write about too. I felt I had to though. Thank you for your appreciation of this writing.

  • February 23, 2018 at 6:24 PM
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    So sad this event, but worse are the amount of them; crazy people killing indiscriminately, destroying lives. I don’t believe in easy access to guns, never have. We in Australia had a similar gunmen kill many people, the gun laws were immediately changed and the now the amount of people killed by guns is minimal. I think these statistics speak for themselves. Nicely written and emoted Paul. Cheers!

    • February 25, 2018 at 1:14 PM
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      The weird part is that gun laws differ from state to state, even county to county. Can’t blame the gun only the ease of ability to get it. Craziness. Thank you so much for reading.

  • February 24, 2018 at 2:43 AM
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    Such a sad direction our “society” is taking, with the sensationalizing in their own debased way loving the mass murders. So very many innocents being carried along inside one person’s horrific path. So very often. We are all punish ed. Great writing on such a high level, for such a low deed.

    • February 25, 2018 at 1:18 PM
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      Thank you so much Donald. This is getting out of control, it’s disgusting. How they screwed this one up is sad. So many complaints to authorities about this sick individual and they did nothing. The cop there did nothing. So bad. Thank you for reading and your comments my friend.

  • February 25, 2018 at 1:36 PM
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    Awesome piece my friend and heart wrenching as well, but in its way oh so beautiful. – It is my belief that the American society as a whole has let us all down – I remember back when I was young that I had a gun rack in my pickup that held two fully loaded rifles as did at least half of the pickups in the parking lot of our school. We never shot up a school or even thought about it. The guns never changed – it was the way we raise our kids and society that has changed.

    • February 25, 2018 at 4:16 PM
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      Thanks Kurt. You are right though. Now everyone has a psychological thing and is on meds. I was telling a friend earlier this past week that I remembered people with gun racks at school as well. It a scary society we live in. Thank you so much my friend for your comments

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