Freedom Cannot Be Shot Down
Images from Freepik
*TW: Gun violence, school shooter*
~In memory of Jean Kuczka, Christina Irimie, Richard Aspinwall, Eva Mireles, Irma Garcia, and all other teachers murdered at work.~
She taught her classes to respect one another,
Whatever the differences in their creed.
That’s what she meant by a sister or brother —
A precept derived from her own dear mother,
But also passed on through her father’s seed.
She taught her classes to respect one another
And their right to freedom before all other
Principles, and every so-called brave deed:
That’s what she meant by a sister or brother.
Her killer was someone who didn’t bother
With ideals beyond those of hate and greed —
She taught her classes to respect one another,
Whereas he respected nobody further
Than his twisted brand of hatred decreed.
“That’s what she meant by a sister or brother”…
To a gunman merely words, or sounds, rather,
But ones he could not kill, which we still need:
She taught her classes to respect one another;
That’s what she meant by a sister or brother.
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Nick Cooke
Nick Cooke has had around 85 poems published or accepted to a variety of outlets, including Acumen, Agenda, The Dark Horse, Ink Sweat & Tears, the High Window Journal, and Dream Catcher. He also has around 40 poetry reviews. In 2016 his poem “Tanis” placed first in a Wax Poetry and Art contest. He was a featured poet on the Flapper Press site in December 2025.
