what strikes
we call tragedy,
when the real travesty
is the tragic consequence
of downright ignoring
who did the striking.
© 2026 Tristan Robert Lange. All rights reserved.
First published on tristanrobertlange.com, February 2, 2026.
Tittu
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Author:
Tristan Robert Lange (
Offline) - Published: February 2nd, 2026 09:30
- Comment from author about the poem: I’m published in an anthology featuring authors from across the Poconos, PA. All proceeds benefit the Pocono Liars Club — a collective of authors and editors dedicated to supporting and mentoring local writers. Available in paperback and Kindle, please consider purchasing one and supporting a great cause. https://a.co/d/58uxM69
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 39
- Users favorite of this poem: Teddy.15, rebellion_in_sanity, cellinic
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Comments9
A sad consequence of the balance of preemptive news reports getting the names and perpetrators wrong. When they name the perpetrator as the victim and vice versa the child rapist is now a child. With political correctness we identify only the victim that now becomes the target of merciless further attacks.
Soren, I hear what you’re saying about misnaming and inversion and that is certainly a valid read. The poem’s center for me is agency…how “tragedy” becomes the word that lets us stop short of naming who struck and why. That deflection is what stays with me, and it certainly happens in reporting as well as in public officials lack of honest accounting. Thanks for your time and insight, my friend!. 📰⚖️🔥🙏
Most welcome my friend. In days of old the news was a check and balance on the three branches of government today the three branches and media are all one with the fox guarding the hen house.
You are not kidding, my friend!
Meanwhile, Popeye never goes ON strike. Why not? Don't answer that! lol.
Glug! LOL!
Without poets like you dear Tristan our world would be even more sad. 🌹
Teddy, comments like this remind me why I keep writing at all. Naming what hurts, what's unjust, and what goes unnamed matters to me, and your encouragement really lands. Thank you, my friend. 📰⚖️🔥🙏
Ohh, he's sneaked in with a song - Ohhh, and a glug-a-glug glug, And a glugging glug glug..... Don't translate that! lol.
Can I guess? A song about a dodgy-topped president on a private island? 🤣 Uh-oh...I might be in court next to Trevor Noah now!
Not quite sure what has gone down there, Tristan. Would like to know.
Sure thing, Dave. This was written in response to the Minneapolis, Minnesota shootings and other ICE-related violence around our country...and how such events are reported as "tragedy" when in reality, they're a travesty. That was the overarching inspiration for the poem. Project 2025's United States of Authoritarians is fully underway! Thank you for taking interest, my friend.
That's great, Tristan. I sometimes have trouble maintaining full awareness of the media bullshit being spread thickly around this end of the planet, and feel I do a fair old job attempting to monitor what is going on in the Greatest Country (delete - subst, 'Circus') in the world. However occasionally some detail.......
🤣 Most welcome, Dave. I hear you. Keeping up with one’s own news is daunting enough!
It’s all about who controls the narrative and their perceived benefit (sigh) 🙏🏻🕊️
Exactly, arqios. Narrative control and perceived benefit determine what gets called “tragedy” instead of being named honestly. That sigh says it all. Grateful for your clarity and presence here. 📰⚖️🔥🙏
Sadly reflects the emergent, or is it the emerged, state of politics today. A poignant reminder well penned.
It sadly does, my friend. Indeed. Thank you, so much, Michael! 📰⚖️🔥🙏
Few words -> an uncomfortable paradox -> maximum impact without detonation.
That’s a sharp read, my friend. The discomfort is meant to sit without release. Glad that landed and I am thankful for your time and insight. 📰⚖️🔥🙏
A wonderful poem, striking by its originality and preciseness of statement. Best wishes, my friend. My fave
Thank you, my friend. That means a great deal to me. Precision was essential here, and I’m grateful it landed. 📰⚖️🔥🙏
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