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Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Empty Dates

 A year passes
and there are empty dates
on the calendar
where birthdays,
holidays
and other milestones
belonged.

Families are owed
memories and dreams,
and everything that wasn't
given away to charity
or tucked quietly
into an abandoned toy box,
is  arrayed into a makeshift
altar,
a reminder of the shock
and random cruelty
of this loss.

Inside the
still-unwrapped
Christmas present,
a smiling, pink plush pig
has been waiting
since last year
for an embrace
and a smile
that will never come.

[Written for #newtown and posted for #openlinknight @dversepoets - with love and sadness.]

43 comments:

  1. Really lovely tribute.

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  2. oh i'm so sorry... it is terrible to lose a child.. that part with the pink plush pig brought tears to my eyes...

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    1. This was written for the survivors of the Newtown Massacre, if you don't know: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandy_Hook_Elementary_School_shooting

      Thanks, Claudia

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  3. ugh...a sobering reminder of those that lost their lives...of children killed...dang...you got me a bit teary...i imagine there are still some unopened presents still waiting...

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    1. Thanks, bro. I'm usually pretty hard to shock/sadden because of a world event - this one just gets me.

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  4. God, Buddah, way to stick a knife in my heart. This was so sad I cried. And the pink pig, such a sweet present, only adds to the heartbreak. Very good writing on a tough subject. Ameleh

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    1. I rarely make myself weepy with my own writing, but I can only imagine all the unfulfilled dreams of these families. Thanks, M

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  5. Heartbreaking, beautiful write.

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  6. Anonymous1:15 PM

    Hard to believe it's been a year already; here's hoping that one day soon, the lessons will be learned. If not, I fear that more families will have to go through awful experiences like this and then have to endure anniversaries they'd rather not be reminded of.

    Tony

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    1. I agree - I try to memorize the name of one victim and pray for their family. That's my way of fighting the publicizing of the shooter's name.

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  7. Anonymous1:21 PM

    Truly poignant. Well done emotions. >KB

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  8. Ouch, that hurt - it must be even more heartbreaking than usual for those families at this time of the year.

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    1. I can't imagine. Thanks for your comment. - Mosk

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  9. Wow, it is hard to believe it has been a year already since this loss. It is so very sad to think that those toys the families had bought for their beloved children will never be in their children's hands. Your poem is a sad reminder that you never know when life as you know it will end. We must treasure each day and each person we love & let them know it. Strong writing, Mosk.

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  10. Oh this is heart breaking.. you can write in ways that make tears come to my eyes.. really well written.

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    1. Thanks, Bjorn. It's a pretty sad memory.

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  11. Such a gut wrenching write---I cannot imagine going through that grief--

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    1. Nor can I - thanks for your comment.

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  12. Oh wow. The ending really hits. A wonderful piece. :-)

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  13. This broke my heart when I realized what it was alluding to. We always stop in Newtown on our way from MA to PA on I-84 west, coincidentally just this past weekend. Hard to fathom that it's been a year since that horrendous shooting, but for those living through it, it must feel like a lifetime. Thanks for sharing this timely piece.

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    1. Thanks, the memory stills breaks my heart.

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  14. Anonymous9:14 PM

    a beautiful poem

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  15. Anonymous9:51 PM

    Sad and moving.

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  16. Anonymous11:59 PM

    This is moving and a beautiful tribute to a senseless massacre...the little pig brought tears...Thank you for sharing, Mosk. ~jackie~

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  17. Wow, Mosk. The detail of the pig just did it for me. Powerful stuff.

    Hope you yourself are well & surrounded by love this season. :)

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    1. Thank you, Joanna, and I hope you are also surrounded by love too.

      "May the blessings of the Lord chase you down the street and run you over." - Sister Vera Sisler

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  18. A beautiful sad write.
    I cannot imagine the heartache in losing a child, how awful it must be, especially this time of year when we tend to think of those we love.
    Anna

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  19. My goodness, what an almighty blow. I really hope writing helps.

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  20. poignant.. sorrow filled and beautiful.

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  21. Well gosh. nd on that poignant and heart-breaking note, I have come to let you know that I have written something especially by your request, my dear Mosky poo.

    http://fireblossom-wordgarden.blogspot.com/2013/12/smile.html

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  22. Oh, this touches my heart...

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  23. *Sigh* And what have we done to try to keep this from happening again? Oh, that's right - NOTHING. :o( Too bad more NRA memebers don't read your poetry.

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