A Recent Poetry Contest I Hosted

I recently hosted a poetry contest on allpoetry.com called "Growing Through Tragedy".  The prompt that I offered for the contest was this:  Write to console or to express the feelings of the people who experienced loss during the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre from December 14, 2012. Wrestle toward closure.

I'm going to post here four of the poems that competed in the contest.  The first three are the first, second and third place winners I selected.  The fourth is one that I wrote for the subject, and though I "submitted" it for the contest, it could not win, and I wrote it simply to think through the subject myself.  If you'd like to read all the poems that were submitted, go to http://allpoetry.com/contest/2589251-Growing_Through_Tragedy.

Here's the winners; first, second, third place.  Enjoy!

BROKENNESS & HOPE

By Kim Nelson

 

When I heard of the shooting
At Sandy Hook Elementary;
My heart fell to my feet
As I learned of such grave tragedy...

Why would someone do this?
What could the reason be?
We will never know or guess
The meaning of the mystery.

What does one say to a mother
Who has lost her precious son?
The screams and anguish on her face
Questions: "How can I carry on"?

How can we comfort a father
Whose daughter leaves a mournful cry?
Nightmares taunt as sleep envelopes-
Wishing he would die...

We will never really know
What brokenness these souls now carry-
The heartache and the loss
Lives etched forever- in catastrophe.

But, there is hope beyond the grave
Although the tough road home seems long;
Our loved ones wait with open arms
Our memory of them -encouraging us along.

Though we are left with souls shattered and torn-
Reminding us that evil still remains-
Our resolve to love and not to hate is tested
An undying song of hope flickers and sustains.

MY ONE LAST WISH

By Sarah Wilen

 

Bang Bang

Crayons dropping on the floor

Screaming around me

A man with a big object

Something is coming towards me

My life flashes before my eyes

Where am I now, candles before me

A happy birthday sign in my cake

Next to my family

Next to my mom

I want to be their right now

No

What is this

Screaming, crying

Blackness around me

I wake up

I am here

With my family

Oh how joyful

But wasn't I at school

 

 

I HAVE AN EXTRA BOX OF CRAYONS

By Sharon Westbrook

 

They laughed, they cried, then they died.

Their lives were only beginning.

They we excited about learning.

All I could do was hold my head in my hands,

as I begged to understand. Then I cried.

We have 5 kids and 5 grand-kids, can't imagine losing any of them this way.

There's a bond with children and parents that never goes away.

Having another child doesn't seem feasible,

for the grief can't be forgotten, that empty hole has no lid.

You can hold a little tighter to the ones left behind.

Please don't let them feel forgotten,

remember they are grieving and feel lost very often.

Everyone handles it their own way,

and some other children are so unkind.

I recall our third daughter in kindergarten,

befriended a little girl that had far less than we;

in my heart I'll always remember Marie.

One day at art time Marie begin to cry,

for she had no supplies in her carton.

The teacher told us on parent's night,

our girl had tried to make the tears all go away.

She stood up and walked over to Marie and was heard to say,

"Here, I have an extra box of crayons you can have."

Marie dried her eyes and smiled so bright.

Just take pride in memories for no psychopath can take these.

Rely on faith, you may see your child again,

won't it be a great reunion then?

All the hurts and heartbreak will be gone.

You can all be reunited in a sweet Heavenly breeze.

And, here's my poem:

FEAR & FAITH

By Curt Audet

 

If I had one gun,
I would never run.
And if I was there,
I wouldn't be scared.

To shoot a child
Is no action mild.
There's another way,
Or there's Hell to pay

How can I see
God working for me?
When evil shoots
And a demon loots?

To hold my boy,
I'm filled with joy;
Unless its said
He is now dead.

Are you here God?
It feels so odd.
For faith to trust
Yet now I must.

If you're up to it, feel free to comment on these poems and even post one of your own.