Tears Thus Ensnared
Moment of Silence Acrostic Poem Challenge
The tragic school violence that occurred yesterday in Winder, Georgia killing two students and two teachers and also injuring nine others, occurred just twelve miles down the road from me in the neighboring county. Its impact and echoing grief are felt all around. There have been far too many school-related incidents like this since Columbine High in 1998. Having worked in a school environment for twenty-two years, I know firsthand the amount of preparation required, as well as the possibility and prevailing fear of such an event. I would like to say that no matter which candidate you support, let’s come together and strive in every way possible – do whatever is needed – to ensure our kids stay safe, especially while in school. School should be for learning, enrichment, and fun. This kind of violence should never happen, even more so when it's instigated by a fourteen-year-old.
Please help keep schools safe.
********
Silence surrounds and unsurmountable fear resonates while
In but a moment, the violence of insanity intrepid invades
Lingering like a wraith, it preys on innocence, lying in wait,
Encapsulating never ending horror, destruction, and grief,
Numbing the mind with non-extinguishable disbelief.
Cascading like a pestilent plague, the overwhelming despair
Echoes in hearts shattered with tears thus ensnared.
About the Creator
Cindy Calder
From Charleston SC - "I am still learning." Michelangelo
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Comments (19)
I agree that school should be a place to learn and have fun while making friends and discovering what life has to offer. It should not be a place where fear of an attack exist. So sad. Great work, Cindy! Thank you for your contributions and dedication to the students.
What an emotionally touching piece! Very well done
Children should be the priority of every adult on the planet.
A solemn "well-wrought" for you, and a moment of silence for the dearly departed...
Gosh this was heartbreaking. I can’t imagine being that close to such tragedy. Thought your poem was excellent - wishing you all the best.
Cindy, I am so sorry for this devastation to be so close in proximity and personal to you in your career. It gives me a sick and hollow feeling to think about kissing your child goodbye and sending them off to face this kind of senseless and perverse tragedy. It's the worst kind of tragedy, really. I agree that we need to come together as a nation somehow to provide safeguards and an environment where each and every student feels safe and accepted, free of bullies.
Cindy, this is so poignantly expressed. I can't believe that this has happened again. Both your foreword and your poem summarise how I feel about this. For it to happen so close to where you live gives it an immediacy which is more frightening in some ways. Hope you are okay.
This hits hard. I’m a middle school teacher and every time we practice a drill I imagine it becoming a reality and remember that so many times and places it has
The silence is deafening after these things happen, when surely all should be shouting with one voice to put an end to it 😖
This is absolutely heartbreaking, Cindy. School shootings need to stop and you are right, we all must push for safer schools. Also, I didn’t realize you are there. I still keep my house In Gwinnett Co. Hoping to go back there.
Heartbreaking and something so unimaginable that you think could never happen to you until it does. Powerful and emotional piece of writing.
Thank you for putting words into something unimaginable. Heartbreaking
Horrific. Absolutely horrific.
Heartbreaking, Cindy! Your words perfectly capture the gamut of emotions of this tragedy! 😭😭😭
That is a powerful piece, and so, so sad.
I feel so sad for the victims... we don't choose to be who we are, and unfortunately we have a written fate, that we cannot change, but seeing that your life is in someone else's hands, who don't appreciate you is just the worst thing I can imagine😞
School violence is a rotten thing and idea of those who perpetuate it. I was a Teacher education major in college and I know how much work a teacher has to do just to plan a day then having to deal with various emotional items of a student as well. I ended up an infant/toddler teacher playing most of the time while teaching the very early academic and social skills
Oh, this one hits hard. I'm nearly speechless. You've done a wonderful and powerful job putting these sentiments into words. Very impactful <3 Thank you so much for sharing and I'm so glad you're safe!
You have created a very eloquent, expressive reflection on a horror that is beyond words. Thank you for your gracious thoughts and willingness to enter into this pain and invite others to look at it with painful honesty. It is unbelievably terrible to hear about this happening anywhere, but knowing that it was so physically proximate to you helps to make it feel all the more real.