More than a Victim

Sandy Hook shooting casualty Jack Pinto, aged six was buried December 17th.  As sad as we all are we need to remember that before Jack was involved in this tragedy, he was many more things to many people.  He was a son, a Giants fan, a buddy.  His best friend John wrote this letter to him.  I proudly use it as the source material for today's found poem.  Thank you, John, for reminding us who Jack was- a little boy full of life. One day I hope to show you the poem. 

Jack,

 You are my best friend.

 We had fun together.

I will miss you.

 I will talk to you in my prayers.

 I love you Jack.

Love, John

Hostess Haiku

Listen to wind howl.

Accept destined failure of

first  hosted Christmas.

.

Yet again...

There was another mass shooting in Pennsylvania today.  Source material here.  I vow to remember every mass shooting in 2013 with at least one found poem.  The murdered in such atrocities were people before they were victims who merit remembrance.  I only hope  However, I would be delighted to  need to write zero, of course.

Three people

including a woman decorating a church

 have been killed after a gunman opened

 fire early Friday in Frankstown Township

in Central Pennsylvania.

After wounding three officers,

the attacker was killed in a shootout

 with police.

The shootings started at around 9am local time.

 Police confirmed that the incident extended

over several miles, adding that they were investigating

at least five separate crime scenes.

Authorities did not release the names

of the victims or the assailant,

 but said they were not related.

 State police are still trying

to determine a timeline and motive of the attacker.

A woman decorating a church

 for the funeral of the pastor

is believed to be the first victim

shot.

The shooter then allegedly opened

fire at two men on the driveway of their home,

killing one.

 The third victim was shot at a crash site

 after a car chase with police.

When the gunman encountered law enforcement,

 a shootout began that ended his death.

 Two Pennsylvania State Troopers

 were injured during the confrontation,

 with one being shot twice

and a second injured by glass fragments

 in his eye and bullet fragments in the forehead.

 A third officer

 was injured in a car crash

 during the ordeal.

Oh Tidings of Comfort and Joy...

The glow of my new set of flea market

bought Christmas lights adorn

the still living tree I’ve named Pete,

after Fudge’s long suffering elder brother

from the middle grade book series that still

makes the aspiring middle grade author chuckle

despite first installment entering its golden jubilee

in 2012, as well as turning 36 myself.

Long absent smile finds its way back to face

as I behold artisan made decorations I’ve spent

over24 total hours scouring the Net

and non-big box businesses for.

Items I brought to celebrate the Son of God’s birth

is fair trade,

artist made,

local economy sustaining,

or good works supporting;

preferably all four.

I am certain

the Most Holy beams down

on my relocated grin.

Truer Words

I was looking around Facebook for cool posts I could turn into found poems by my daily deadline.  Blaine Beckwith- advocate, PWD, friend- provided these wise per-election words on October 30, 2012.

The health and well-being

of huge numbers of people

depend on keeping Mitt Romney
out of the White House.

He has said

that he will basically eliminate Medicare,

 as it now exists.

People, please vote

for president Barack Obama next Tuesday.

 This election has higher

stakes attached to it

 than any other election

 that I can remember, in my lifetime.

Out of Order

Woebegone poet shocked

to discover her verses regarding

the latest child massacre

earn her more money

than much revised verses

on liberation.

Good Points

Found poem from my fabulous, freedom fighter friend Owen’s Facebook status of approximately 7PM on December 17, 2012.

By the tremendous

outpouring of horror, regret and despair

rregarding the tragic deaths

of so very many children,

 I must say that I truly

 feel touched, and truly feel moved.

It pleases me to learn that

O so very many shall

now finally protest the senseless

deaths of children everywhere.

 Those energies

 I now see devoted to gun control

 shall also surely now be similarly

 devoted to fighting homelessness,

 austerity measures,

 preservation of the social safety net,

 combating domestic violence,

 and opposing a drone warfare foreign policy.

 Right?