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Lynn Geri's avatar

Second Amendment

Lynn Geri,

Found poetry by Dan Rather

Steady 5/24/22

Again.

Again.

Again.

Tears flow. Fire leaps from my eyes.

Wracks my body, my soul with Sorrow.

There is so much to say. And nothing left to say.

There is so much heartbreak and loss.

There is so much trauma. Emptiness. Rage.

A knot of hellish emotions propel

A nation to a sadness, defies attempts

To rationalize these horrors:

We can’t do anything about this plague

Or our children, empty desks in classrooms?

As our kids run for their lives, we do nothing?

To accept the unacceptable

Must never be acceptable.

Write a poem.

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Laura Urban Perry's avatar

Thank you Kelli. So well timed.

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Lana Hechtman Ayers's avatar

Thank you for this thoughtful, heartfelt, uplifting message, Kelli. We all need to be kind to one another and to ourselves, these days more than ever.

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Jody L. Collins's avatar

Kelli, so happy you d i d decide to drop in with a small note of encouragement. Your photos were beautiful--autumn in the PNW totally equals New England. And it was lovely to see your smiling face.

Agreed, poetry & kindness will help save the world. (well, that and Jesus. but this ain't church, just friends.)

waving hello from Renton.

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Judy Slattery's avatar

Just what I needed ...thank you, Kelli.

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Natalie Serber's avatar

It’s a team effort, this hope job! Thank you, Kelli for spreading the word! 😘😘😘

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Miriam Bassuk's avatar

Thank you for this spark, Kelli. It was a tender affirmation for hope and kindness,

both much needed.

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Antonia Taylor's avatar

Be present. Work at hope. Beautiful words for anyone who's sleepless/ feeling helpless/ appalled/ struggling with ache of the world rn xo

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Kelli Russell Agodon's avatar

❤️ Yes, work at hope. So the world becomes hope at work! Sending love, Antonia!

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Jennifer Louden's avatar

I am practicing this hard. It is all I got. I'm leading a writing retreat this week and it's so good to be with kind people doing their heart's work. It is filling me up and god knows I need it. Hugs!

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Kelli Russell Agodon's avatar

You are making the world better, Jen! Love you! ❤️

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Jennifer Louden's avatar

Thank you!! Love gratefully accepted. 🫶🏽 it feels so hard right bobs

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Jennifer Louden's avatar

Now 🫣

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Larry Jaffe's avatar

You are a mighty fine person!

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Kelli Russell Agodon's avatar

Thank you, Larry!

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Karla Linn Merrifield's avatar

Lovely photo of you

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Kelli Russell Agodon's avatar

Thanks, Karla! I was on a writing residency.

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Sarah Salway's avatar

I love having hope as a job. Yes!

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Kelli Russell Agodon's avatar

I know! Imagine our resumes! ❤️

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Evangeline Neve's avatar

Thank you for these words, it meant a lot to read them somehow.

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Kelli Russell Agodon's avatar

You are so welcome!

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Nancy Fowler's avatar

Wonderful words. Accept what it is that we CAN do and be that person.

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Ariel Rathbun's avatar

Live that love that. 🙏

And sorry about what looks like an injured hand !

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Cathy Wittmeyer's avatar

perfect timing Kelli! I feel like i'm swimming in poetic serendipity these days. indeed practicing kindness makes practicing gratitude and hope easier and holds the nightmares at bay. thank you for this!

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