To the Mommies of Newtown, the Daddies of Newtown, and all the Families of Newtown, too:
Olivia and Avielle, Benjamin and Jack,
Dylan and Daniel, Catherine and James, Ana and Noah,
Caroline and Emilie, Jessica and Allison,
Madeleine and Josephine, Charlotte and Jesse, Chase and Grace --
They suffered not for very long, not for very long.
May there be some solace in this, oh grief-gone parents,
brothers, sisters, uncles and aunts, grandparents and cousins, too.
(They lived not for very long, not for very long!)
This is terrible and this is true.
All citizens bear your loss with you.
(Show us their little bodies, Newtown Bee!
Let us see what these parents see.
Why should these bear the bullets alone?
We all are parents, brothers, sisters, uncles and aunts,
Grandparents and cousins, too.)
"These woods are used to a bang and a crack."
Yet we cannot bring these babies back.
Show us their wounds. The Newtown blood stains us all:
Gun-bearers or not. Let us see what this law permits,
What the antique amendment has wrought.
Mommies of Newtown, Daddies of Newtown,
Brothers, sisters, uncles and aunts, grandparents and cousins, too --
Open your doors, if you can.
Speak on your doorstep, if you can.
(Oh, how can we ask anything more of you?)
Come out by the flagpole,
Cry by the Christmas tree.
Why should you suffer sequestered?
Make us bear the sight of you;
The sight of you sears us.
Let these babies shock a nation becoming
A shield to protect all children and all others.
These first graders of Sandy Hook Elementary took
Bushmaster bullets --
They can change the world.
Mommies of Newtown, Daddies of Newtown,
Brothers, sisters, uncles and aunts, grandparents and cousins, too --
Come out of your houses, stay on your streets.
Light your candles and light your Christmas trees.
Let Newtown be the center of Christmas.
The nation holds a vigil for you.
These first graders of Sandy Hook Elementary took
Bullets over and over --
(It's all over, it's all over! Our weak words to comfort you,
Mommies of Newtown, Daddies of Newtown,
And all of the Families of Newtown, too.)
Our actions can make them more than victims;
The boys will be heroes, the girls all heroines.
"As we move on from what happened here...
Let it not turn into something that defines us," Robbie Parker,
Father of Emilie, managed to utter into microphones.
Let's let the dying courage of Dawn and Mary, Victoria and Lauren, Anne Marie and Rachel and Nancy steel us to un-right this right.
The first graders of Sandy Hook Elementary may
change the world, making the country safer for others.
(Unimaginable sacrifice! So utterly horrible! So entirely unforeseen!)
20 Mylar balloons, each affixed to a bridge by a string, and bobbing skyward,
may prove a fragile but solid fence against firearms.
Mommies of Newtown, Daddies of Newtown,
And all of the Families of Newtown, too,
(Oh, how can we ask any more of you?!)
Open your doors, if you can.
Speak on your doorsteps.
Do not spare us.
Appall our nation. Sear us so
Olivia and Avielle, Benjamin and Jack,
Dylan and Daniel, Catherine and James, Ana and Noah,
Caroline and Emilie, Jessica and Allison,
Madeleine and Josephine, Charlotte and Jesse, Chase and Grace --
Your children will not have been slain in vain.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.