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Tuesday 18 December 2012


 Words Aren't Enough
For all the victims of the shooting in Newtown, Connecticut


 Words aren’t enough, the common tongue
judged useless to expunge our deepest grief.
Yet what else have we?
Music perhaps, gestures, grunts, touches
of cold comfort?
Rage exhausts itself, searching vainly
for some culprit.

We return to words and find them wanting.
Trusting others to know enough
to know just how we feel.
Continuing to mouth our vain attempts
to tame the savagery of loss.

Words aren’t enough we know.
We know, we know not what to say.
Yet speak and keep on speaking.
In the end; it’s all we know.

© James Rainsford 2012



Note to Readers: Posted to Open Link Night at dVerse Poets on 18th December 2012. This is a re-working of an earlier poem . Posted here this evening for all those who tragically lost their lives in Sandy Hook Elementary School.

13 comments:

  1. Funny how that works, words aren't enough but many seem to spill out, thought provoking.

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  2. words may not be enough but i think we all have a common feeling this week...and as we share them emotions mingle as well....sometimes you just have to talk it out...

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  3. Words fail us all this week. I listen to Barber's Adagio for Strings when words fail me--I am there now--

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  4. Words aren't enough...until now, our hearts are breaking ~ Lovely share ~

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  5. I say the words are too freely shared. Love more, speak less. Act more, speak less.

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  6. We all keep searching for words when there are none adequate in times like these. But us lovers of words search anyway...where we sometimes find comfort. Beautiful post.

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  7. Even when they aren't enough...when it's all you've got, they must be expressed. I've filled pages since this tragic event, and it will haunt all our works...as it should. It is our compassion, our empathy...so much more than sympathy and words for words sake. Fantastic write, James...always!

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  8. Words are not enough - but sometimes, ineffectual as they may be - it is all we can offer and long to receive for at least, there is understanding of the need of empathy.

    Anna

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  9. Oh yes...you're exactly right. This is just exactly how I feel, and probably everyone else too! Well done.

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  10. So difficult to find words, and I am still struggling with them.... I am thankful that you gave voice to how many of us feel.

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If you wish your views and opinions to be published here, please be polite and respectful. I welcome feedback on my work and will try to respond if you take the trouble to post a comment. Thanks for visiting 'The Sanctum of Sanity.' Hope you enjoyed the experience, James.