South Korean Stampede

May those families who lost someone in the stampede know that we will always be with them.

Beneath the moon, Itaewon's lights still gleamed,
A tapestry of laughter, joy it seemed.
But fate, a whisper dark, a twist of hand,
Transformed the revelry to shifting sand.

A tide of souls, in joyous, youthful throng,
Swept by a current, cruel and strong.
Pressed too close, a breath, a touch, a shove,
Lives extinguished, threads unbound of love.

No battle's roar, no tyrant's chilling hand,
Just shadows dancing, in a promised land.
But destiny, a fickle, unseen guest,
Marked its victims, put their hearts to rest.

From mountain peak to bustling city's heart,
A nation mourns, with tears that freely start.
For each lost soul, a star extinguished bright,
Leaving behind a world bereft of light.

Parents weep, for children's dreams undone,
Lovers cry, for futures lost as one.
Friends remember laughter, whispers shared,
A void remains, a silence heavy, paired.

Yet, in the darkness, courage finds its spark,
Helping hands reach out, leave wounds less stark.
A nation's strength, in moments such as these,
Binds up the broken, brings the wind of peace.

So let us honor, not with empty praise,
But deeds of kindness, echoing through the days.
Remember names, etched on memory's stone,
Carry their laughter, let it be your own.

For though they're gone, their spirits leave a trace,
In every smile, in every warm embrace.
May Itaewon's sorrow never fade,
But bloom anew, in acts of love displayed.

Let lanterns rise, with wishes whispered low,
For souls departed, where gentle breezes blow.
And though the darkness lingers, hope survives,
In hearts united, where memory thrives.

May peace embrace them, in the starry night,
Itaewon's angels, bathed in moonlit light.

~ Bard