When will it ever end
who are these people that run to arms
that pull the trigger so many-many times, in anger
Have we warped our children`s minds
let them play their blood red games...
till it bleeds into life and spills upon our streets
32 down
pushed off the edge of life
never to be known again, lost in a day at school
God save
the weeping parents
aching in pain for the child they raised to this end
When will it ever end
shall we fear our own children
have they lost their sense of life`s value
We used to, duke it out
Now we kill, in-mass like a sporting game
What have we become
32 down
LeeL
Author notes
I always write from where I stand in my mind (Virgina)
I truly believe our children have lost their value for life
Their games have diminished the appalling nature of blood
This morning I learned that another had died making the total 32
I updated my verse with 2 key strokes, yet it represented a lifetime
of effort and loss for some greaving parents somewhere
That is the difference between electronics and the reality
A contest entry
- Remember Those Murdered at Virginia Tech by jaie2007.
425 points, ended April 18, 2007, 9 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 51 of 51
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Wow
that is strong, and very very good
with what i read you shoulld get a goldbronze
trophy, heart is where the peoms come fro best
i give this a gold in my heart,,, to me it is that good and thankyou for creating such a great poem
pray for our young children
many are so lost,
brevans
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This is such a truly powerful piece, hitting close to heart and home. The mass murder at VT was such a catastrophe, such an absolute shame. It makes me fear for the world that my children are growing into. A painfully beautiful look at the truth in society, and the many lives it has taken.
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Certainly a heart tugging topic as we all sat stunned watching yet another tragedy unfold. Too much pain....
~Tia
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what a heartfelt tribute to the virginia tech people. the included video game violence is a great parallel to how sureality can be a reality in morbid ways. i think that more people should read this poem, because it conveys a message that people's lives are valuable and people are fragile. live each day as your last. my condolences to the victims from virginia tec
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What a heartfelt poem my friend,
This sum up evrything i beleive.
God bless our children,
God Bless those left behind on this earth who lost their children fathers , sisters brothers. This was a beautiful write endeavor wow. I would love to see the world read this. Thank you for being so heart felt my freind.
God be With Those.
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a fitting tribute to the VT 32, and also a wonderful piece of rage at our violent video-game infested world.
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yes overwhelmingly a sad thing.
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Very poignant, insightful and necessary...
Tragedy has a pattern. First, there are the victims. We talk about them briefly, their families, even less and what happened to them. Second, we talk about the killer, and we talk about the killer and we talk about the killer. What about the victims? Comparing this monstrosity to a video game is interesting. It is unfortunate, that some people cannot distinguish fantasy and reality. I appreciated that you focused on the victims over and over. May everyone keep that focus ahead. The killer's been revealed. Forget him. Remember the innocent. Thank you.
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Jaie
You are so correct, there is a pattern and it is Media driven
They will let the victoms and the families pass
Then they will focus on the killer and make a study of him
It is all pathetic and doller driven. Let him rot in hell
Rick
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I, too, don't understand this crazy, mixed up world nor do I understand how one person can knowingly and brutally take another's life...
You've written this awesomely well, my friend! May God have mercy and grace on us all...God help us to survive this world until he comes to take us home
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Hi Angel
I agree completely with you
You are so kind to read my writings
I hope i will not here of this again for a long while
Rick
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I could not agree with you more..
I limit video games in my home as well as monitior tv and discourage the use of violence..
however I do teach my children to be aware and to protect themselves..
Who wakes up at 7 am and says to day is the day im going to take away the life of 32 precious souls..
May they all rest in peace.
Another powerful write thank you for sharing..
Melissa
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Hi Melissa
My daughter never saw a commerical brodcast directly till she was 15. She played her first vido game at a friends home about that time. I know this is extream but I did not want to cloude her mind in her formative years. It did help her in haveing a more balanced view of the world. She did not need to know how many people were shot in Detroit each day to have a balanced life. That was not our existance.
I thank you greatly for your thoughts, Rick
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So painfully true are these words. Our youth are desensitized to the reality of violence from the death games they play daily on Xbox and Playstation. Our children shot and killed will not get back up when the game refreshes.
As the mother of a son in college right now, I feel these parents grief and outrage to the utmost extent. My immediate reaction when I heard "college campus shooting" was to become glued to the TV.
Your words have expressed what so many of us feel. When will it end? Powerful and poignant piece, packed with emotions and sadly, reality. My heart is with the families. Great work, my friend.
~Lori
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Lori
Thank you for the thoughtful and heart felt comment
We are blessed by the volume of entertainment at our fingertips
We can hear the finest orcrastra in the world in a few clicks
Then there is the other side, the blurring of reality on the screen
I thank you, Rick
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Hi Mr.
This is just one reason why I always say " you make me proud ". Very touching and a well written piece of your God given talent.
With people like you in the world, maybe my Nyla will have a chance to grow and learn withoout fearing for her percious life. Thanls for writing this.
Manyblessings2u & yours always
your buddy, your friend,
your joy, your joyce
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Joyce
One more thing...
Thank you for saying I make you proud
Love, Rick -
Hi Sweety
I wish there was no reason to ever write like this
There is no benifit. All we get is a Time Magizine cover from it
Such things are a pathetic extention of our humanity, then my title
Thank you for reading my thoughts.
Love Ya, Rick
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When violence invades places though safe...it shatters the comfort of us all.
I remember talking to my son when his was in sixth grade about what to do if he ever hears shots at school. A few years later, I had to have the talk with my daughter in fourth grade.
She is is college now and quite disturbed by this. Truly when will be learn...what have we become.
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Marianne
Do you believe what we are having to say to our children
Instructions for GUN FIRE
As the kids would say... "What`s up with that"
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THis is a great poem you wrote here Rick, I can't imagine what those parents are going through, their child goes to school and never see them again. It's so sad in todays society that something like this can occur. Well done Eric
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Angel
The parents are distrought and have NO recorse in reality
This is a time when I look up to God and ask WHY.....?????
Rick
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today is a sad day... Thank you for making a stand. For what we have become but the dead... we are numb to love, numb to feeling, numb to life. What have we become? I am with you, friend.
Again, thank you for this..
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Scion
We are numb
there is always an underlying cause
it is the detachment in the solution that is disterbing
Thank you for your thoughts
Rick
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Very well said, my friend!!!! I agree with you 100%, with all of the war and other gun violence going on in this world we are teaching our children that fighting with words or last resort fists is outdated. It's now about who has the biggest weapon! I greatly applaud you for writing this!!!!
~DAWN~
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~DAWN~
Fist are out, no one wants to get dirty or hert
it is easer to just to take our anger to the streets
and fulfill Andy Warhol prophecy for fame
Rick
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I love the first stanza,
'When will it ever end
who are these people that run to arms
that pull the trigger so many times in anger'
such a strong line. Amazing write. Thought provoking and powerful!!!!
Brav
Michelle
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Michelle
Thank you for hearing my words
I am venting, pure and simple
I am totally appauled and hopless
Rick
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"Have we warped our children's minds
let them play their red blood games...
till it bleeds into life and spills upon our streets"
Sounds as if you have seen the news of another tragedy at school where learning becomes a nightmare in class. Many of the children these days have been raised where parents are missing due to work, seperation, war. leaving them to learn survival, hatred and revenge. Powerful write Rick
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Bren
If this happened in the 50 or 60 the world would be shocked
but the erosion has been steady and gradual, and we have adapted to depervation
Drive by shootings kill our children in their rooms
Where will we run to have peace, if not this world
Again, the time is Eleven Fifty Five, and we dance like druken fools at the funeral of the world
Rick
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Wonderful sentiment woven in this write. My prayers go out tonight to the familys left behind and to the poor mother of the shooter what she must be going through right now. It is a very sad world we live in when our children are no longer safe in their schools. A great thought provocking write. Thank you for sharing and keep up the great work. Bravo
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Poetesse
I pray with you
I remember this
Work like it is up to me
and pray like it is up to God
We as parents have work to do
Rick
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i have a poem called the game that i wrote for my son after he was shot. life is not a game. if it were, it would be easy to mend, just close the box and switch games. thank you for sharing this with me today. viyanna rosemarie
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One more thing
Sorry about your son, Rick -
Viyanna
I think you understand what I am talking about
Watch any violent game and see what can be accomplished with a touch
A high powered rifel requires no less pressure, just a touch, the damage is very removed
"just close the box and switch games". YES, my point
Rick
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Hi Rick,
The Virginia shooting has obviously touched you deeply, just as it must anyone who has even half a heart. This is a wonderful first, gut reaction to the tragedy, speaking not only of your belief of what the underlying cause might be, but just that sense of disbelief that anyone could treat life with so little value. Trust me, my friend...the world mourns with you. My thoughts go especially to the family of the shooter...My God...to be left with such a legacy and the questions that will haunt them forever.
A few spelling changes:
childrens = children's
sence = sense
spilles = spills
(for those that care
)
I liked this very much and think it has its value. I think it is a very simplified explanation of the cause of something like this though. I don't believe games alone can explain the complicated nature of a mind gone so wrong...but that's just me.
Thank you for sharing this with AP...it is with writes such as this that share our grief that we all begin the long and arduous journey to healing.
Much love,
~J.
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Hi Trista
As always you show your caring heart
and I thank you for fixing my suckie spelling
As to the causes, we all will react to powerfull emotion.
To some, it is suficant to raise our voice. Others will get phisical.
Well adjusted people see reality and the outcome of their actions.
I think that line has become distorted and the perpertrators have immunity
from emotion. ( Perhaps thru gaming or media )
I wish there was a cause and effect study to proof this out.
I just know the beginging of this rampent violance does corrolate with the advent of violent games and TV
Enough said, it all makes me sick
Rick
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Trista
I always save the most thoughtful comment to answer last
after I have had time to calm myself from my own words... soon
Rick
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wow.. im in a abnormaml pscyh class right now, and we're talking about the shooting.. and then i read this poem. wow. I really like the message you have going in this piece, and i couldent agree more. thanks for sharing
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Love
Let me know what conclusions you form
I say, electronicly produced, envorimential influences
Rick
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Excellent
I give it two thumbs up! Well done!
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Searith
I thank you
Rick
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I like your message, yet you have a fair few spelling errors that threw the rhythm off. It's still a good write, but with the errors still there, it doesn't strike me as being as desperate as it should. Just my thought.
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Blossom
SPELLING
I cant think that small
Did you read the words..??? 31 DEAD
31 young people like you Dead
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powerful write of a horrorable act.
this brought tears to my eyes
we must wake up as a society and realize we are allowing our and our childrens minds to be corrupted by media and games
well written
Michelle
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Michelle
I truly believe this is true
When I was first in combat, the killing was appaling
After a while, it didn`t bother me, all I saw was red colors
I think the young have become the same, just red colors
Rick
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Wow, how true. How true. What has my generation become? You know, my parents complain about how bad kids can be these days and I just look at them and say, but you're not a part of it, it wasn't someone of your generation that did these things. I have to live with these people until the day I die. These people are sadly mine. And I wish I could change it.
~M~
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Dear ~M~
My friend
Once we have prayed
what can we do next
Where is the solution to be found
Thank you for your thoughts
Rick
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