My poem “Letter of Tears To The Bald Eagles” which I wrote this evening, was written in light of the recent mass massacre event that occurred in Las Vegas, on October 1st, 2017. It is primarily dedicated to the family members of all the victims that went to enjoy a concert only to end up facing a cruel, unjust massacre instead. It was also written for anyone willing to consider these words with an open heart and mind. There is absolutely nothing that can justify the killing of innocent people who go to enjoy an open concert in a public space. I, like many of you I am certain, am beyond shocked at the horror this event has unleashed upon this great land. I pray that the NRA, our House of Representatives, our policy makers, the gun owners that have been for such a long time against gun control, and the president himself would unite and reason together as a collective group, to do what is right and best for the whole nation, not just for a certain number of individuals, to try to find a solution that ensures reasonable gun control laws for the sake of our safety, if not for any other reason at least for this one. A moment of silence, a prayer, and this poem is the least I can offer of myself.
I turn now to the mighty Preamble of the United States Constitution. It’s just one sentence but one that brings together everything that this nation was founded upon, including words such as “Tranquility” and other precious, capitalized words such as “Union,” “Welfare,” “Blessings of Liberty,” and “Prosperity,” bold words which meant the world to the forefathers of this nation who tried to secure these principles in the framework of the Constitution itself so that America can be built on a good and strong foundation, one that revered human life. I am not a U.S. born citizen, but I am beyond privileged and honored to be a U.S. naturalized citizen. I love this country with all of my heart and I stand up for what the forefathers of this nation established because it was righteous, it was beautiful, and it was well intended for all citizens of the United States of America not just for a couple of men inside the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House, now known as the Independence Hall, in 1787. These men didn’t think just of themselves, they truly considered their children and their children’s children by genuinely desiring nothing but greatness and well-being for both the present and future citizens of the United States of America.
From The Constitution of the United States’ Preamble, which I highly esteem:
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
Letter of Tears To The Bald Eagles
poem by
Carmen A. Kraela
Las Vegas Boulevard’s deluging echo of plangent tears,
Flowing through and beyond the broad, white stars
Shattered by the savage mass murder on Route 91
Unleashing upon the innocent nothing but bullets and blood
Nefarious bloodshed, malign crime, by no means justified,
Have we failed our own Constitution’s very first lines, the mighty Preamble,
The very foundation prescribed before even reaching Article I?
Bald eagles, open your hearts’ eyes that soar
Over a flood of sour tears inside
Be bold and amend laws’ flawed screws and bolts
That lead to great loss,
Let your lips speak with profundity
Truth that is incontrovertible, just,
Hear the dead scream from beyond cold clouds
Admonish the injustice brought upon their lives
By guns, dangerous weapons
That crushed life itself,
Look upon the pale, frozen faces
Of your sisters and brothers, now gone,
Acknowledge their once right to life
That deserved a chance
Not the inhuman massacre they received instead.
When machines give rise to a destruction gruesome
Like the horrified faces in my letter of tears, each someone’s loved one,
Enjoying the beauty of music at nothing but a festival
I say the hell with personal interests, lets put aside our selfish pride
Reject indifference with changes that make a difference
And do the right thing for our fellow mankind
Secure safety for the country we made an oath to love.
Bald eagles, open your hearts’ eyes that soar
Over a flood of sour tears inside
Be bold and amend laws’ flawed screws and bolts
That lead to great loss,
Let your lips speak with profundity
Truth that is incontrovertible, just,
Hear the dead scream from beyond cold clouds
Admonish the injustice brought upon their lives
By guns, dangerous weapons
That crushed life itself,
Look upon the pale, frozen faces
Of your sisters and brothers, now gone,
Acknowledge their once right to life
That deserved a chance
Not the inhuman massacre they received instead.
This poem was inspired by the melody entitled “An Ideal of Hope,” produced by the great composer of music Hans Zimmer, from the film “Man Of Steel.”