What a day it was as the sun broke over the horizon,
as its light swept across our beautiful land.
In those early hours people went to work
there in the big apple, there on Manhattan Island,
there at the World Trade Center, people went to work.
Visitors came, scattering throughout those 110 stories
of those two beautiful skyscrapers, the day had begun.
It was September eleven, year two thousand and one.
That same day in Washington, at the Pentagon,
nerve center of our nation’s military command,
people went to work.
It was morning.
This was the day we lost our innocence as a nation!
A commercial airplane plowed into the North Tower,
another plowed into the South Tower,
as still another plunged into the Pentagon,
and a fourth plane crashed in Pennsylvania!
All were loaded with passengers,
all on their way to California,
all heavily loaded with volatile fuel!
The flames from the crashes shot in all directions,
enveloped the buildings, brought death to passengers and crews,
to all persons nearby.
The heat from the burning fuel reached one thousand degrees.
The nearby steel girders quickly lost their strength.
They began to collapse, to bend and break.
In the towers the weight of the many stories above sank with Gargantuan force.
Both towers collapsed with unbelievable power and speed,
spraying debris and ashes, and huge chunks of concrete and steel
in all directions.
At the Pentagon devastation reigned.
What a tragedy! In New York thousands died,
in Washington, hundreds; in Pennsylvania, all 45 on the plane;
the fate of multitudes in the twin towers unknown, only a few escaped.
Rescue crews raced to ground zero,
courageous heros bent on saving those in peril!
Many of these lost their lives also.
The following hours sent shock waves across our nation.
America was being attacked.
The government and military went on highest alert.
Airports were closed across the nation.
Extensive security measures were put in place.
The borders to Mexico and Canada were closed.
Many television channels stayed on the air around the clock,
with the ever widening story.
How could this happen? The truth began to unfold.
The four planes had been hi-jacked;
four or five suicidal terrorists on each plane.
Those responsible are unknown.
A massive manhunt begins across the world.
Many nations express their shock and sorrow,
Many pledge willingness to help in a variety of ways.
Our government announces plans to strive to build
a coalition of nations to attack the world problem of terrorism.
The president will be calling up huge numbers of our reserves.
We are on the brink of a new age as a nation, as a world.
The fanatic zealots responsible for this awful day must be brought down.
But how can this be done?
These terrorists are committed to bring down America at all cost,
There are vast numbers of these cells across our world.
Their religious fanaticism is misguided.
Their attachment to Islam is merely coincidental, for Islam is a peaceful faith.
Most nations desire to see the end of terrorism, but not all nations.
Those desiring peace with common goals must work together
in this hour of international uncertainty.
We must learn how to live in a world with rogue nations;
how to keep them from paralyzing civilization.
In this day of capability in chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons,
in this day of advanced technology and increasing terrorism,
the mature peace loving nations must work together calmly, carefully,
with determination and fierce resolve to overcome the forces of evil
which are capable of destruction.
There is now a vast outpouring of patriotism in America,
a people willing to help and share in myriad ways.
a nation ready to be led by the deep resources of their spiritual lives.
A new day is upon us, our innocence is gone; we can survive this dark hour.
Tomorrow can bring new hope and peace across the world.
(September 2001)