Soto Commemorates Pulse Victims One Year Later

Congressman Soto joined Congresswoman Val Demings and others in remembering the 49 victims of the Pulse nightclub attack, one year later.

OUR PULSE STILL BEATS

Inspiration from a brother lost too soon

A place for his memory to play the tune

Alas his pulse ceased

A safe place for a rainbow of people

Full expression was presented throughout this steeple

They all danced to the pulsating sounds

Then came a night of celebration

For many friends from many nations

On the move to impulsive grooves

In the midst of the night a dark figure entered

Hate filled heart and soul a splintered

His guns pulsating death.

Horrors, and cries, as bullets fly

Some they ran and some they died

Their pulses ceased to be

Brave officers infiltrated the scene

A melee ensued amidst smoke and gleam

And in the end terror was silenced, the repulsive vanquished

Medics and firefighters quickly came to the rescue

Seeking out those who cried out with fading hues

Come quick he's still breathing, wait she has a pulse

In makeshift ambulances staining ER floors in red

One by one saved from the dead

On the monitor, pulses finally steady beep, beep, beep

In the morn Orlando wakes in sadness

But comes together as One above the madness

The pulse of the city is unspeakable grief and unbreakable love

From everywhere we came to the Center, the Bloodbank, the Lake, and the Streets

We gave our time, our pennies, our blood, our hugs, and our eats

Donors with a strong pulse are needed to replenish our stock

Makeshift monuments grew before our eyes

We gathered at Dr Phillips for those we lost and those still alive

As the bell rang 49 times, sorrow became the natural impulse, but so was unity

This emotion, this grief, this love was felt around the world

By mothers and fathers, boys and girls

A community pulsating with sadness and defiant hope

Our happy little tourist town known for magic

Became the sight of history's most violent shooting, tragic

But our community's pulse still beats

One year later one community stronger

Our pulse still beats

For those who survived

Our pulse still beats

And for those we lost

Our love still remains

For the 49 angels our love still remains

Though pain will ever be in our hearts

Our love still remains.