Today’s prompt from Tuesday Chatter:

“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, “I will try again tomorrow.” – Mary Anne Radmacher

I couldn’t help but think of the brave and articulate students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Anything each of us can do to bring awareness to this movement is important. 

Here is my response to the prompt. I chose a blitz poem because I felt the power behind this form supports the message.

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Tragedy has made them warriors

Tragedy transformed as courage

Courage to say enough is enough

Courage to say no more

No more children dying in a classroom

No more excuses, no more “thoughts and prayers”

Prayers whispered without intention

Prayers meant to silence the storm

Storm’s brewing on this trail of tears

Storms harnessing the power of each tomorrow

Tomorrow created by children bent on action

Tomorrow’s leaders emerging today

Today they’ve abandoned innocence

Today they’ve become role models

Role models politicians failed to be

Role models we meet with thunderous applause

Applause as we unite behind their voices

Applause for the spirit calling us to fight

Fight the inaction

Fight the violence that holds us hostage

Hostage to laws that don’t keep us safe

Hostage to fear in places of enlightenment

Enlightenment begins now

Enlightenment borne of necessity

Necessity means Never Again

Necessity means March for Our Lives

Lives lost but never forgotten

Lives lost but never forgotten

Forgotten promises no more

Forgotten pledges to make a change

Change as we raise our voices

Change as we join together

Together we follow these children

Together these children make a difference

A difference adults failed to make

A difference long time coming

Coming together to march

Coming together to demand

Demand it now

Demand an end

End this violence

End these massacres

Massacres in our schools

Massacres in places where they should be safe

Safe classrooms holding our babies

Safe todays and safe tomorrows created from sorrow

Sorrow as mourning beckons reformation

Sorrow as we vow to meet the challenge

Challenge…

CHANGE

 

 

photo: Tuesday Chatter

prompts: Tuesday Chatter Weekly, February Falls 18, #NewViewVerse, #PoemTrail