10/16/2025
We Are CK
An Epic Poem about an Epic Man
By Ryan M. Akers
Broken hearted, I declared that morning
In a sleepy-staring consternation of grief
Before I encumbered more mourning
Stark realism or an epiphany of disbelief:
“2025 is the year of sadness”
Usually ever-optimistic, overtly joyful,
I felt the pull toward Jesus Christ
Emulating my Lord, a man of sorrows,
On days in ways so incredibly overpriced
I whispered it to my bride without trying to hide
Ill feelings on that morning, 10th of September
Prior to the tragic day we will never forget
Dawn broke on a day to always remember
It was on that day, in that terrible way
Patriots of America
Disciples of Christ
Youth across the world
Lost a brother.
He didn’t deserve to die
We shuttered to see the lie
Realness ripped at our eyes like nothing other.
So let the media take their seats, let the judge strike the gavel
Ampersand wax stamp all the documents held by the clerk
Quiet the jury, bolt the doors bailiff, call the first witness
Into the public opinion trial of Charlie Kirk.
Now?
Wow.
How do I explain the breadth of life of Charlie Kirk?
So bold and courageous with his calling by Christ!
So patriotic and pastoral in his work with strangers
Such a life given to service he sacrificed!
A force of nature so unforced and unnatural
A gentle giant poised to take a stand
An ability to listen slowly, yet react quickly
From his heart and mind as if planned
Charlie used confidence as a platform to uphold
Everything God’s Word taught, promised, or practically told
Everything true and noble, things warm not cold
Everything for family as designed in Christ’s mold
Fighting for youth’s freedom among the American wold.
Like His Savior, Charlie poured himself into his work
Emptying himself in a grassroots movement
Grounded in bold faith, love of country, and most of all,
Fearless pursuit of truth for constant improvement.
These simple lines in mere stanzas cannot contain
Even an iota of the spice he left on this nation!
Falling short of how he changed the conservative movement
I encourage people to seek; I am swollen with vexation.
The day began like any other, quiet time and prayer
Seeking anything to raise my spirits and quell my thoughts
Still grieving the loss of my father, still looking for work
I worked aimlessly to connect all the dots.
What’s in a name? Shout it loud! Shakespeare would be proud
How the essence of a moniker label extends to a calling
There’s little doubt of his destiny or how it became so enthralling:
Charlie, from German roots, means “free man”
Kirk, from Old Norse, means “church”
Literally, Charlie Kirk is “church of the free man”
He hosted services wherever he went or the time he spent
God’s plan never includes a mistake or coincidence;
This name only amplifies his spiritual significance.
Just after lunch, just after ruminating ideas
The tragic news hit; shock bit me like a viper
Charlie had been shot speaking at a Utah college
We prayed, dismayed, watching cops hunt down the sniper
I couldn’t comprehend, I couldn’t understand
Why someone would dare something so audacious
Trying to silence the truth Charlie was sharing
A coward afraid to debate, an act beyond bodacious
It wasn’t long before the confirmation came
A slap to my senses unable to come undone:
Charlie Kirk had died from a wound to his neck
Our brave brother killed at the age of 31.
Suffocation. Forgetting to breathe. Silence.
A tragedy sharper than swords was now a reality
I could hear angels cry, I instantly asked why
September 10 was now another sad jubilee.
Break for recess, grab a drink, suck down a smoke
Come back in 5 flat; it’s certainly no joke
Moving from opening statements to doom
Court will resume, and that right soon….
Allow me to present if you will
Giving the murmuring crowd time to be still
The spiritual battle of good versus evil
Guaranteed to usher explosive upheaval.
So much about that day, looking back
Makes no sense or reason for attack
Contradictions hurled like missiles in the air
Paradoxes beware, reviling and deep prayer.
To me, a believer bent on being a realist first
I didn’t come to understand the signs presented in full
Not until days had passed with increasing numb
Away from my eyes, I gave a pull to the wool
Wait, hold up! Whoa… did I not mention?
The division of America between the left and the right?
Ever present in 2025, you could cut the tension
With a plastic spoon not even clutched very tight.
The assassination arcade was already in full swing
Against conservatives by liberals; a truth doth sting
When all the quarters they could ever gather and bring
Libs played the fatal game, aiming to kill everything…
Conservative or right-wing
Anyone letting freedom ring
Pretending the president is a king
They armed their teeth, loaded their sling
Ready to fire on MAGA or just about anything
Unaligned with insane lyrics they would constantly sing.
The first example was rooted back in the summer of 2020
When so many lives were lost, so many businesses destroyed
By the “mostly peaceful protests” of the left,
Out for blood over the death of George Floyd.
But as the sun sunk shuttered on September 10th,
There were no sirens, there were no fires,
There were only mourners holding vigils
Singing for peace beneath church spires.
Yet the lies kept coming like hits on the radio
Such as the constant name-calling rhetorical
Knives like “fascist” or “N**i” were used so often
Their sharp edges became rusty and dull.
The suspect’s weapon was found, hidden in the bushes
A bolt-action rifle found close to the university
A N**i gun from WWII used to kill a N**i?
A bold-action stifle recognized by basic history.
Allow me now to adequately describe, detail, demonstrate
The fallout these fools found from their own standard
For the right, it was called “cancel culture” with no cause
People’s social media being blocked without someone slandered
Within minutes of Charlie’s mortal wound,
Libs flooded Facebook, TikTok, X, Instagram, whatever
Celebrating his death with cheers, jaunts, evil reactions
Not understanding the vileness of their childish endeavor
Just as` quick, like a blow to the head with a heavy stick,
These morally absent people began to reap the whirlwind:
Cancel culture transitioned into cancel consequence
The left lunatics lost jobs, school, and never chagrined.
Who does that? I mean, who thinks that’s honorable?
Who thinks it’s good to trash the dearly departed?
It angered me to the point of sin, watching these despicable acts
From so many misguided souls and ice cold hearted….
Can we take another recess, your honor?
My mouth is dry, my words are dripping
Unless we lay out the truth or sequester the jury
There’s attention and retention soon to be slipping
Okay then, yes sir, we’ll continue and move forward
Reminds me of democrats never willing to admit
Wrongdoing or misinformation when it’s their fault
From the top down, they’re too illegit to quit.
Political points confide something we cannot hide
The far left is on life support, all systems critical
Running in silence after condoning violence
I’ll leave it there, so sad, so mad, it’s pitiful.
31 years young, truthful messages far-flung,
Charlie was cut down by a coward with no tongue.
Like Stephen, full of grace and power, it was the hour
He was martyred at the same age, just as sour.
And equally ridiculous, I cannot avoid
Any comparison to the death of George Floyd!
He was admirable; his reputation was nearly destroyed
Yet no one posted they were appalled or annoyed.
Death should never be celebrated
Negated
Elated
Underrated
Placated.
Disagreement stems from an erased heart, a debased mind.
There’s something in their soul they could never find
Or something in their heart they left behind
When acting like a threat than a part of humankind.
There’s a big difference and inference
Between grief and anger held in silence
Celebration and exultation in violence
HUGE!
Let the judge disrupt the trial!
I speak truthfully like he did all the while
Never hiding dishonestly behind a smile
Never pushing others’ opinions in the aisle
Never doing anything so nasty or vile!
That makes me think, so I’ll skate the rink
Vile and evil have the same letters
As does “live” and I have no denial
None of these words will ever reconcile.
Of course, is there any surprise for such discourse?
Nah, we ought to be talking about Discord
Used by anyone rebellious and bored
An online space in which wrath is poured.
It looks like you’ve done it with this coward,
Washed his brain clean of morals, effectively froward.
Grandpa’s gun had him readily empowered
Any semblance of right or wrong gone, devoured.
Think about the families on both sides of this crime
Give it time and the guilt will turn on a dime
Erasing the lives of everyone involved, all those years
Truly, we all end up in tears.
Lastly, I’ll briefly mention evidence found in the historical
Record of deceptive language exceedingly rhetorical
There’s only one thing this information influx attains:
Call it a car wash for perfectly good brains!
Telling yourself as you rationalize
Anything but truth in your rational lies.
To conclude the court in my head, it’s a simple case:
Someone unwilling to talk, or walk the walk
Someone who believed in the word “radicalize”
Beyond the rejected cries, blinded yet burdened eyes
Lies formalize and suddenly demonize
A young man to the brink of no compromise
So filled with hate over understanding, someone dies.
That’s the future of our country: a tampered culture
Feeding our children to the feast of a vulture.
I think back to that Utah Valley college campus
After the assassination came and went,
Following the escape of screaming students,
There was a bird’s eye view of Charlie’s tent.
The words, “Prove Me Wrong” could clearly be read
Shining through the darkness a most beautiful light.
It was God, not man, he sought with courage for his faith,
This spiritual battle only proved Jesus was right.
I remember Genesis, the first book of the Bible
The last chapter of the book as right now we all should;
We know this world is evil and full of trouble
What the world meant for evil, God meant for good.
Beyond disappointment, the divine appointment, the thought
To remember his bride and children, how distraught!
We pray for them, send our love, support his legacy,
Knowing it’s not political; it’s God’s love for eternity.
I’ve never seen something so pernicious or heartlessly vicious
Get flipped on its head and slowly become auspicious
When I witnessed a revival disguised as a memorial,
Only our Creator could paint such a beautiful pictorial!
Thousands in attendance, millions watching online,
As family, friends, musicians, politicians came to remember Charlie.
And when that stadium roared with praise and worship,
It was deafening like a revving engine on a fat boy Harley!
That’s where it happened, in that stadium in Glendale
Here in Arizona, not far from where I work,
Where I go to church, right where I live
When Ericka, Charlie’s widow, looked to the heavens
She closed her eyes and uttered she would forgive.
True forgiveness is not the same as claiming innocence
There’s still debts to pay, the weight of consequence
But to free your soul from someone else’s expense
Giving them the ball without playing defense.
It’s a strange twist, I can’t resist, to point it out
In this world, people want to get and forget, no doubt
But in the commands of Christ, we strive to live
By glorifying God so we give and forgive.
Beloved friends, I don’t know how…. I truly don’t.
So much evil spinning in the ongoing ploy.
For now, we’ll forgive, love, and grieve Charlie…
But somehow, our grief will turn into joy (John 16:20)
God’s Word is clear: we are His children if we so chose
Through faith, it’s a free gift of grace we cannot lose! (Ephesians 2:8-9)
So I stand down and trust we are God’s beloved handiwork,
As we’ve now become united: we are Charlie Kirk!
