Chris has written poetry for 28 years though he focuses on short fiction. But watch out for the occasional twisted nursery rhyme.

Author's Note

I recently wrote and published here on HubPages a short story about a shooting in a high school. The shooter was one of the students. In the story, I suggested one way students might respond to that crisis. It was extreme, but in times like these, evil must be met with something overpowering.

This poem is an alternate approach to the one I took in that story. If we did what this poem suggests, I believe it would be just as extreme as what occurred in my other story. But the solution here is a radically different extreme.

If you would like to read the other hub as well, go to, I Killed a Man Today.

Sublime

Take me away, with a song of love

Or a scene where nature’s beauty unfolds

Take me away, to a world that once was

Or to a whimsical realm of fantasies untold

Mandalay Bay, The Pulse,

Sandy Hook, Fort Hood*,

Send us looking for cover

From reports of new blood.

We listen to the stories,

Faithful to opine

We’ll remember forever

The name Columbine**.

Isil, Al-Qa’ida,

Boko Haram,

Conjur memories of death

And national alarm

Hundreds of girls

From a Nigerian school.

Know terror up close,

And inhumane rule.

Take me away, with a song of love

Or a scene where nature’s beauty unfolds

Take me away, to a world that once was

Or to a whimsical realm of fantasies untold

But rather than escaping

The world that we love,

Instead of surrendering

To minds come undone,

You pray to your God,

I’ll pray to mine

Hurting hearts to be healed

And the world made sublime.

Places Mentioned in the Poem

*Mandalay Bay Hotel, Las Vegas. The site of the deadliest shooting in U.S. history on October 1, 2017, when fifty-three people were gunned down. Shooter-Stephen Paddock.

*Pulse. A nightclub in Orlando, Florida where, on June 12, 2016, forty-nine people were killed. Shooter-Omar Mateen, twenty-nine years old.

*Sandy Hook. On December 14, 2012, twenty children between six and seven years old, as well as six school staff, were fatally shot at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Shooter-twenty year old, Adam Lanza.

*Fort Hood. At this military base in Texas, thirteen people were shot and killed on November 5, 2009. Shooter-Nidal Hasan, a U.S. Army major.

*Columbine-Columbine High School in Columbine, Colorado, was the site of a school shooting also involving explosive devices on April 20, 1999. Shooters-Eric David Harris and Dylan Bennet Klebold.

Poll About the Shooters

Poll about Society's Solution to Mass Shootings

© 2018 Chris Mills

Comments

Chris Mills (author) from Traverse City, MI on July 13, 2018:

Shauna, I'm sorry I didn't respond as soon as I read your comment. I wrote the two hubs on this topic to touch on the two extreme ways people seem to want to use to handle this issue. One is very active, the other seems to be passive. I appreciate your input.

Shauna L Bowling from Central Florida on July 10, 2018:

Let's not forget Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida where 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz killed 17 people and injured an additional 14 on Valentine's Day 2018.

I don't know what the answer is, Chris. We can pray for ourselves, but I'm not sure praying for those who commit such heinous crimes will do any good. If they had faith in their hearts, they wouldn't do what they do in the first place.

Michael Milec on July 04, 2018:

Encouraged by your exquisite admonition, we have to step out into our world as Jesus of Nazareth did in His time on the earth when dealing with "circumstances". He business was quite harsh with demon possessed persons, casting evil spirits out of people. He also has equipped and authorized His followers to do the same. Yet, he gave us right to to pray earnestly in all our needs.

( Chris dear friend , my "opinion" is portion of that what has been given to me from above...)

Chris Mills (author) from Traverse City, MI on July 04, 2018:

Sean, Jesus did make a sharp turn away from the "eye for an eye" response by a person who has been the victim of violence. Jesus said to love them...Love is the answer, ultimately. But I am still inclined to support a multifaceted approach to the issue.

Chris Mills (author) from Traverse City, MI on July 04, 2018:

Shaloo, Welcome to my hub. Thank you for your comment. I appreciate your thoughtful input.

Ioannis Arvanitis from Greece, Almyros on July 04, 2018:

Dear brother, I think Jesus is very pleased with your verses! They are according to His words.

Η Αγάπη είναι η απάντηση.

Sean

Shaloo Walia from India on July 04, 2018:

A thought provoking poem about a disturbing theme! Spirituality and prayer is indeed the answer.

Chris Mills (author) from Traverse City, MI on July 03, 2018:

Livetech, I like your words here about solving these issues. They must be solvable. We can't afford to think any other way.

Chris Mills (author) from Traverse City, MI on July 03, 2018:

Rinita, Permission granted. Thank you for reading and for sharing the articles.

Chris Mills (author) from Traverse City, MI on July 03, 2018:

Thank you, John. I hope the combination of the two hubs is an effective tool.

Chris Mills (author) from Traverse City, MI on July 03, 2018:

manatita, Thanks for your words. We do need to be provoking thinking one these things.

Chris Mills (author) from Traverse City, MI on July 03, 2018:

Sean, Jesus told his followers to love and do good to their enemies and pray for them. What do you think of this application those verses?

Chris Mills (author) from Traverse City, MI on July 03, 2018:

Ann, Your words, "All means available," are right on.

Paul Levy from United Kingdom on July 03, 2018:

Powerful work here - A difficult subject, I hope we can work towards solving these issues

Rinita Sen on July 03, 2018:

You have done such a great job of spreading the hope here, Chris. I sincerely hope many more people read the message, especially the last stanza. I'll share the link to this piece to social media with your permission.

John Hansen from Queensland Australia on July 03, 2018:

Chris, this is a wonderful alternative and accompaniment to your short story on the mass shooting theme. Great job with this powerful poem.

manatita44 from london on July 02, 2018:

Lighter. Some more hope here. This could potentially inspire greater involvement and we can lobby for changes in the respected areas. A thought-provoking and powdrful Hub!

Ioannis Arvanitis from Greece, Almyros on July 02, 2018:

Beautiful, my Brother, Chris! You can't fight darkness with darkness, only with Light!

"Offering Love to a world that battles it daily is one of the toughest missions and the most wonderful adventure!" - Sean Dragon

Ann Carr from SW England on July 02, 2018:

Yes, intervention seems the logical thing but that wouldn't cover the impulsive, no warning, ones. We have to use all means available and that should at least bring the numbers down.

Chris Mills (author) from Traverse City, MI on July 02, 2018:

Ann, Thanks for your comments. Something in between. We are nearly forced to profile these people and deal with them before they go over the edge.

Ann Carr from SW England on July 02, 2018:

Beautifully written, with care and structure. It's such a dilemma when sick people do these things and we need to overcome them. Prayer can help but action has to be taken. Long term it requires education and love but short term, when a shooter is right there before you, self-preservation means you have to do something to stop it immediately. How we reconcile the two is the huge problem. Understanding is difficult.

You've presented us with two extremes; there has to be something in between.

Ann

Chris Mills (author) from Traverse City, MI on July 02, 2018:

Venkatachari M, I am searching, like many others, to find a way to help the hurting souls around us. The people who hurt are hurting people. This does not mean I wish to coddle them but to see them healed before they do harm. Thank you for your sincere words.

Venkatachari M from Hyderabad, India on July 02, 2018:

A very nice poem narrating the duality of thoughts in our minds during such terrific situations. It,s true that most of us like to escape from challenges and want to be peaceful and safe for ourselves. But, it becomes our duty to provide some support to our neighborhood. Otherwise, one can feel guilty of himself afterward. Your suggestion of offering prayers is a good solution as the last step in such circumstances. But, something more may be required to stop those shootings instantly.

Chris Mills (author) from Traverse City, MI on July 01, 2018:

Shannon, I wrestle with the same things you do. I wrote the poem to illuminate how we handle these sad stories. Of course, there is nothing wrong with our books and our films. I think the problem arises at the point when we are unwilling to face the reality that something horrible really did just happen, and we dive into our own escape of choice. At this point, prayer and directing one's positive attention to the troubled people in our world, asking for healing, intervention, and mental clarity cannot be a bad thing.

Shannon Henry from Texas on July 01, 2018:

There's something sad to me about this poem. The poem itself is really well written, but it's the truth to it that I find sad. It's so easy to just escape from hearing the news and to turn a blind eye. I've done it. Still do it. I have to sometimes or else it just becomes too overwhelming. And in my personal life, escaping into a good book for awhile is a wonderful way to regroup when reality gets rough. Takes my mind off my tendency to worry or overthink things. I suppose that's not unhealthy, but in the scope of the "real world" bigger problems, it doesn't really do much in the long run. Of course, if people just did what you suggest at the end and nothing else so extreme and violent then an escape wouldn't be needed. Whimsical world of fantasies. . .childhood.. . .sigh.