"You wanted me indomitable"

No, forgive me.
If you no longer live,
if you, beloved, my love,
if you have died,
all the leaves will fall in my breast,
it will rain on my soul night and day,
the snow will burn my heart,
I shall walk with frost and fire and death and snow,
my feet will want to walk to where you are sleeping, but
I shall stay alive,
because above all things
you wanted me indomitable,
and, my love, because you know that I am not only a man
but all mankind.

From The Dead Woman by Pablo Neruda

The women and men who participate in the Souls Shot Portrait Project are indomitable. In the past few weeks, in particular, I have spoken with many family members of the victims and many of the artists who create the portraits. The family members and friends indeed march on, indomitable, in their quest to keep alive the memories of their loved ones. The artists work passionately to represent the lives lived. We keep them alive to tell their story and to harness the irrepressible power of art to affect change. We are so very grateful to all who make this project a powerful force in exposing viewers to the cost of gun culture in our community and our country.