Tag: poetry

Written on February 15, 2019

Content warning: gun violence, trauma

Intro: I wrote this back in 2019, but this Valentine’s Day I couldn’t stop thinking about the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on 2/14/18, so I decided to publish this poem. 2019 especially was a horrific year of mass shootings, so this poem also goes out to everyone impacted by gun violence in some way.

In celebrating a holiday of love and giving

Let us remember the 17 people

Killed on this very February 14th

At Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School

In Parkland, Florida.

A day when people should be free to love

In any way, shape or form.

At the hands of one individual’s bitter rage and gun

These souls shed blood and tears and

Experienced unimaginable pain and trauma.

Let us also remember the many people and

Especially young people

Preteens, teens, toddlers, adults

Killed by gun violence.

Let us remember the passion

That these Parkland students

And so many more

Continue to burn with for social reform

For stricter laws

For more frank discussion about this issue.

Even after the trauma continues to bring

Back horrific memories of rivers of blood

And screams and pops of bullets.

Let us remember.

January 31, 2019

Uncategorized

Sorrys are useless in the hands of cowards

Sorrys are useless when you have said them over and over again

Thank yous do not cover up the hurt you have caused.

Sorrys are like sugar on a festering open wound

Sorrys are like giving roses and buttercream cake to cure a black and blue bruise

Sorrys do more harm than good in the end if delivered carelessly

Sorrys are empty when you have hurt the people who love you

Thank yous are a mindless void when delivered half eaten

Loving yourself is important

So you don’t keep making excuses for opening up fresh wounds to hurt people

When you hurt yourself, hurt others, you open up fresh wounds

You heal those wounds by reflecting on and loving you, not running away from life or hurting yourself even more.

By communicating openly.

Not hiding your hurt where people cannot find it.

By being honest with yourself.

By not getting wrapped up in your own pain.

You are beautiful. You are loved. Just as you are.

Don’t ever forget it.