I can’t seem to stop the tears. It’s permeating…a brutal blow to the reality that is called living. I weep, along with the rest of the world, knowing that this isn’t the end; that the vampires will thrive and the ogres shall endure to wander this world; and innately good and innocent people – our children – will continue to be slaughtered.

How soon before the demon that possessed the evil Sandy Hook assassin will manifest itself into another infernal living vestibule and carry out more unparalleled, aching horror?

We, as merely mortal Homo sapiens, can only pray to a god that doesn’t exist…it comforts the soul; folklore sooths the agony for many. And that’s okay.

But I immerse myself in meditative thought and music. It may sound frivolous, but not any more so than praying to invisible gods in imaginary heavens.

I weep for the innocent lambs slaughtered by the wolves – I weep. What else is there for me to do?

I go to this piece in times like these…times that too often darken the skies of our world.

So, as you listen, bow your head in remembrance of the victims of this most heinous act – the innocents and the protectors:

• Charlotte Bacon, 6
• Daniel Barden, 7
• Olivia Engel, 6
• Josephine Gay, 7
• Dylan Hockley, 6
• Madeleine Hsu, 6
• Catherine Hubbard, 6
• Chase Kowalski, 7
• Jesse Lewis, 6
• Ana Marquez-Greene, 6
• James Mattioli, 6
• Grace McDonnell, 7
• Emilie Parker, 6
• Jack Pinto, 6
• Noah Pozner, 6
• Caroline Previdi, 6
• Jessica Rekos, 6
• Avielle Richman, 6
• Benjamin Wheeler, 6
• Allison Wyatt, 6

• Rachel D’Avino, 29, teacher’s aide
• Dawn Hochsprung, 47, principal
• Anne Marie Murphy, 52, teacher’s aide
• Lauren Rousseau, 30, teacher
• Mary Sherlach, 56, school psychologist
• Victoria Leigh Soto, 27, teacher