21 Comments
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Lor's avatar

Always great to see your name in my Inbox , I have missed your wise, beautiful poems. Like many, I have had a difficult time articulating my thoughts and feelings. My heart tells me that no person should be murdered for peacefully expressing their beliefs. No family should have to lose a loving member to a bullet. No person should have to witness a shooting. I very much appreciate your poem ,Troy, and the time and emotional cost it has taken from you to write it.

“…silenced by the very thing he deemed worthy.”

I have seen words like irony and karma, I can only say, no comment…

Sadly, I feel that empathy is being washed out to sea. The tide is turning, yes, the sky darkening, and a great Tsunami is approaching the shore. Hold on tight to your loved ones.

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Troy Putney's avatar

Thank you, Lor, for your words and support. This is a strange time. Too much information and too little wisdom, as they say. If a tsunami is coming, it seems the only safe place is on the high road. I'll see you there!

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Susie Mawhinney's avatar

Many lights are needed for all the dark corners in the world at the moment, I pray only that there are enough...

Beautifully said Troy, your voice, in the utter despair, is a bright light. 🙏🏼

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Troy Putney's avatar

Thank you, Susie. I was trying to process the complex emotions I was having in the aftermath of another avoidable tragedy. Not everyone will agree with me, and that's okay, but those of us who carry the burden of Charlie's vitriol have been forced to reckon with what the fallout of his murder may mean for us.

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Susie Mawhinney's avatar

My hands are together in prayer for you Troy, my heart always with you. Stay strong my friend.

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Kathleen Hobbs's avatar

Excellent

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Troy Putney's avatar

Thank you, Kathleen. I appreciate your kindness.

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Kathleen Hobbs's avatar

You’re welcome, Troy

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Kim Nelson's avatar

💛

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Troy Putney's avatar

Sending love, Kim.

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Marisol Muñoz-Kiehne's avatar

May we be soothers,

relieving soreness, sorrows,

as empathizers.

...

May we be serum,

dew droplets in drought season,

as moisturizers.

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Troy Putney's avatar

May we continue

to simply be, the goodness

we were born to be.

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Nancy Dafoe's avatar

Such a powerful poem holding an essay within it. Thanks for writing.

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Troy Putney's avatar

It was as such a strange moment, and even stranger reaction for me.

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Jonathan Foster's avatar

Good to see you here Troy, these trying times are made easier by your fineness my friend. Your poem is, as they so often are, a perfectly beautiful song cutting trough the background cacophony. Thanks

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Teyani Whitman's avatar

Thank you Troy. Beautifully expressed.

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Troy Putney's avatar

Wishing you a peaceful day.

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Monica Graff's avatar

Beautifully said. These are trying times, stretching our hearts to beyond known limits. I am reminded of Dr. MLK’s words: "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

Thank you for shining, Troy. May we all do the same.

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Troy Putney's avatar

The irony of sharing a Dr. King on a poem about Charlie Kirk is not lost on me. Dr. King's words echo through the ages because they were about liberation, kindness, understanding, and empathy. Thank you for sharing them. 🙏🏼

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Elena Brower's avatar

I officially love you, brother

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Troy Putney's avatar

What a long, strange path we wander together, Elena. May it lead us all to a kinder world. Love to you and yours.

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