Current Events Poems

The horror we endured that day,
The shock, the pain, the fear.
A nightmare unimaginable
To those of us still here.

Dust and ashes, souls swept away,
A city brought down to her knees.
The losses so horrendous,
Visions too monstrous to believe.

The devastating images
In all our hearts remain.
The destruction of humanity
Left us all forever changed.

The faces of those cruelly lost
Are burned inside our minds
And the mournful tears still resonate
Of those loved ones left behind.

The heroes and the victims,
The acts of courage through that hell.
The tales of stunning miracles
That each survivor lived to tell.

Human beings blindly reaching out
To save the strangers in their wake.
Risking all without a thought
Just for someone else's sake.

A ravaged, urban war zone
Now just remnants of mankind.
An incomprehensible catastrophe
That stopped all sense of time.

How could we ever rise again?
Was there a way to make things right?
Did any fight still live inside of us?
Was there any hope in sight?

We fought for our humanity!
We carried on for those we lost!
We kept on moving forward
For those who paid so dear a cost!

Decades have passed and here we stand,
Our flag waves boldly in the breeze.
It's our faith in God and country
That now brings us to our knees!

Names etched in bronze with pride and sorrow
So the world remembers them.
It's the power of their memory
That helped to make us strong again!

I woke up to see the bright Connecticut sky.
My mom came in with a holiday twinkle in her eye.
She helped me get dressed and the morning flew by.

I ran down the stairs in the blink of an eye,
Kissed Mommy and hugged Daddy goodbye,
Went out to wait with sister at the stop sign.

The bus arrived and I was free.
I heard the singing of birds and the buzzing of bees.
The bell rang and my teacher smiled back at me.
My friends and I sat in a circle and began to recite our ABCs
But suddenly.....

The door burst open, a man with a gun,
And we all realized our time was done.
We were all scared and some started to cry,
But a little confidence bubbled up on my inside.

I heard the booms and felt a sharp pain.
I was sad to leave the things I would never gain,
The family members I would dearly miss,
My mom's face, smile, and lips that I kissed.

I remembered Daddy's bear hugs,
His musky cologne, feeling warm and snug.
Sister was only a few classrooms away; through the window I sometimes could see.
I'll never get to tell her how much she means to me.

Suddenly a powerful hand touched my face,
A soothing voice calmed my heart's pace.
"Don't worry, my child, you were here once before," said He.
"I love you and missed you and am glad you're with me."

I looked around and saw halos and wings,
Happiness and love and wonderful things.
I saw my friends, not dead, but here with me,
And realized what my life had come to be.

That man sent me here, but I'm doing okay,
Even though despair and sadness fill my family's day.
I watch with sorrow as I tear my family apart,
But they'll soon realize I'm still in their hearts.

Maybe he was crazy; maybe he was ill.
Did that give him a reason to kill?
Maybe the man hurt us because he was hurting inside.
When he killed us, a part of our small town died.

Love with everything you've got.
Laugh, hug, and smile a lot.
You never know what Father has in mind.
You'll never know when it's your time.

So take it as a lesson, whether you're young or old.
Learn from me and know your life is full of gold.
Maybe this will teach you to never regret a thing.
Although it's sad, you could've been me.

Pray for my family and my friends too.
Be joyous and glad that it wasn't you,
And although it's really hard and tough,
God would want us to forgive the killer we've hated enough.

I know they miss me and I'll miss them,
But what's done is done; it's the end.
So enjoy your years; they go by fast.
Forget and forgive things from your past.

When I just even glance at the American Flag, I feel a surge of pride.
The stripes and stars gleam in the morning as we put it up to rise outside.

I think of the people long ago fighting for our rights.
When I am looking at the great flag, I think of being in those long ago fights.

When I think of the flag, I think of being free.
When I think of America, it's a great place to be.

When we think of the flag, I realize that horrendous date, nine eleven.
I think of those noble people who went to work and sadly passed on to heaven.

I think of the two towers, proudly up high.
They were sadly gone in one night.

I can't imagine the people running down those long winding stairs.
Those people must have been dodging those fiery glares.

The man on the plane trying to stop the terrorists' way is a hero to me.
I think that is the way everybody should try to be.

When I look at the American Flag, I think of all the many blessings I have.
I have a family, a house, a school, and a best friend named Trav.

The American Flag is a great symbol to me.
I hope that everybody can see what I see.

I remember
Planes flying low
Smoke from the towers
Cries from the injured
Calls for help
People running
Sobs from witnesses
Heroes running in the towers
Faces we will never see again
I remember
The towers falling
Smoke filling the air
People running for safety
Screams of terror
I remember
The quiet
People in the streets
Heroes walking around the rubble
Whispers in the streets
I remember
Victims not forgotten
Heroes not forgotten
Sacrifices not forgotten
Memories not forgotten
I remember 9/11

What will you remember
of the days we could not play?
When things were very different
from just the other day.
We had to stay apart.
It was all that we could do.
There was no other way
to help the world get through.

What will you remember
of the days we could not play?
Will you always please remember
we wished it all away.
It must have been confusing
with people wearing masks.
We washed and scrubbed our hands
after very simple tasks.

One day the schools are open.
The next day they are not.
Marks and lines are on the floors
to stand on your own spot.

What will you remember
of the days we could not play?
I hope you will remember
it would not always be that way.

Love,
Grandma March 2020

Who could have foretold the horror
At Sandy Hook that day
When precious lives were taken?
Their futures were stolen right away.
The horror that evolved that day
And struck the children down
Opened the eyes of everyone
To all the evil lurking round.
We see their small and eager faces
Their innocence shining through
And we realize the magnitude
Of the evil man can do.

They were only six years old
And lost their chance to grow,
And the reason they were taken
Is very hard to know
Because they were so precious.
Did God need them by his side?
Because I know for certain
With him, they do abide.
The grief felt by their loved ones
Will never go away
Because of the evil that was done
At Sandy Hook that day.

Wars, wars near and far,
Earthquakes, tornados, hurricanes.
All these natural disasters
So close to home,
Tearing up the earth, whirling 'round and 'round,
Destroying homes and even the land.

Humans dying,
People crying out
From all the pain.
Sickness, starvation, incurable disease
Eating away at humanity
From the inside out.

Crime and violence
As never seen before.
Murder for no reason at all.
Rape, innocent victims screaming out.
So many in prison serving time.
Suicide for those who no longer know what to do.

Disobedience of authority,
Including their parents,
Immorality of every kind.
All of these things happening
Yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
No peace in sight, or so it seems.

We need to look further
Before time runs out.
We only have one more chance
To make our lives better.
Don't give in to humanity's selfish plight.
Make the right decision for yourselves.

Tears of anger,
Fear, anguish,
We pray for Ukraine.
Tears of worry,
Desperation,
We pray for Ukraine.
Tears of disbelief,
Words fail us,
We pray for Ukraine.

As the morning bell was sounding
We settled in our seats,
And Ms. Williams wrote upon the board
The list of work we would complete.

It felt like any other day
With no apparent change.
The sounds around me so familiar,
Every moment seemed the same.

The whispers of my closest friends,
A class singing down the hall,
Ms. Williams' soft, assuring voice,
And the squeaking of her chalk.

Anticipation of our lunchtime break
And my choice, PB and J,
Then back to work until the final bell
And the end of our school day.

But then in one split second
Our whole world came crashing down,
When the safety we all had shared
Was shattered by a booming sound.

That booming sound continued.
It seemed to come from everywhere.
I could hear some children screaming
And a smoky, egg smell in the air.

Ms. Williams looked so frightened
That my heart began to pound.
I felt myself begin to panic
As we all dropped to the ground.

Beneath our desks we huddled
While we held our best friends tight.
I closed my eyes and held my breath
And cowered there in fright.

I thought about my Mom and Dad
And knew that soon they'd come.
But then he breached our classroom door
And started shooting everyone.

Sally drooped inside my arms!
We were falling one by one!
Blood was splattered everywhere
As he wielded his big gun!

The world was growing darker now
And I shivered from the cold.
I reached for Sally's bloody hand
So I had something I could hold.

We prayed someone would save us
And take this monster far away.
But each moment we grew wearier
Until we knew it was too late.

And then the last bell of the day
Echoed loudly through the halls.
But instead of children's laughter
There was not a single sound at all!

Alas! The death of Queen Elizabeth the Second is declared;
From the Scottish Highlands, the specter of grief appeared,
At Balmoral Castle, the tempest of tears begins to cascade away-
Where near her loved ones, the Queen reigned for the final day!
Her legacy shall fondly be remembered in every alley of these lands,
By all those who in their prime had pledged their loyal hands!

Long, O, for long may her legacy be cherished - far and wide,
And our noble sovereign's name be remembered with pride,
The loveliest monarch who ever graced the throne,
Whose virtues even foreign strangers had to condone-
To whom this nation vowed the service of their years,
And now have been reduced to an ocean of tears.
May the love of the mourners upon thee forever shine,
And thy glory may the world perpetually enshrine!
Welcome her, O heaven, with all thy glamor,
The Queen of earth, who sought no power,
The generous soul who dignified her throne,
Oh, Paradise! Rejoice and make her your own! 

Death had come too soon! The beloved sovereign had fallen.
Death has shattered the lamp of love, hope, and reason,
O, how the nation's congregations are weeping!
O, the soft-hearted ones who have begun mourning!
It is still surreal to believe the proclaimer's word:
The dearest Queen Elizabeth had left our world!
May future sovereigns of England imitate her ways
And be champions of tolerance to the latest day!
With grateful hearts, we pray for lasting peace,
So the monarch of tomorrow may rule with ease!
And England be safe from all turmoil and fear,
And this gracious isle remain to our hearts, dear!
O, the beloved sovereign, who lives no more!
O, the sadness we are feeling by the Atlantic's shore!
Let the birds of the heavens sing a joyous song,
For the Queen whose influence will live for long.
With a sense of loss and endless sorrow,
We brave once more the dawn of tomorrow.
But Russians, Americans, foreign we may be,
We are all but one in our farewell to thee!

O, the legacy of the glorious sovereign who lives no more!
We lament the Queen who graced this England's shore.
Death had delivered Her Majesty from our mortal station,
O, give glory to her name and condolence to her nation,
Gentle comfort to the ones who yielded to lamentation!
Let these heartening words be a token of our dedication,
From nations afar, we offer our mortal consecration,
To the monarch who reigned seven decades since her coronation,
Farewell, O faithful Queen, may thy legacy forever survive,
We shall mourn thy death as long as we are alive!
Farewell, noble Queen, farewell to eternity,
We are all one in our wishes for thee!
Bid her farewell, O nation by the sea!
Farewell to her from the land of the free!

If you're anxious that all have been asked to stay home,
Take comfort in knowing you are not alone.

Tonight at 8, wherever you are,
Gaze up at the sky and pick out a star.

A moment alone or with people you love,
We all share the beautiful sky high above.

Take 30 seconds, be still in your mind;
Reflect on a happy, most memorable time.

The littlest things can give hearts a lift;
If we pause, take a moment, and cherish our gifts.

We can't but feel utter shock,
and we're emotionally drained.
Yet deep within our sadness,
some unity is gained.

Wherever we may come from,
and no matter our belief,
we stand tall as a nation.
We are united in our grief.

They were parents with young children.
They were adults and just a teen.
They were an uncle, aunt, and cousin,
and all the family in between.

So in regards to reason,
we can search and take a look...
No religion condones murder.
It's not in any holy book!

Our loved ones may have fallen
due to the extremity of sin.
But our strength will not be broken,
and TERROR will never win!

Work hard, my weary body, please.
There's lots that must be done.
These strange old times I've never known
Have only just begun.

Work hard, my weary body, please.
This battle must be won
So I can find the brighter days
And lay out in the sun.

There will be days I cannot smile,
When you have to say goodbye,
But I will hold your hand, my friend.
Can't promise I won't cry.

And when these days are over,
And they will, of that I'm sure,
Won't take for granted anything
We always had before.

So if there's something we should take,
A lesson may be learned,
But for now my weary body needs
A rest that's been well-earned.