Unlike terrorists, America won’t hide

Published 12:56 am Friday, October 3, 2008

Reality is living in the shadow of Sept. 11, knowing all of our lives have changed forever in big and small ways.

My poem is a reflection of all the emotions we share from that day and the greater appreciation we all have for the price of freedom.

“Still Stands for Freedom”

Thunder exploded and a monster roared

Grasping, Shock raced into reality

as death’s stalking cloud of dust

rained down shards of glass and debris

sucking in its path every breath of air

with its pungent perfume of hate and carnage.

Human life and twisted metal melted together

in an unimaginable grave of rubble

blackness was swallowed up by ominous silence on this day, the raping of our country’s innocence.

Yet, from the burning mouth of hell

one by one, ghostly figures emerged

dazed, they stood with tear dusted cheeks

disbelief stinging in their eyes

Heroes, Together they raised our tattered flag

to honor, what is now to be a solemn place in history,

You cowards of the shadows! You pierced our hearts

and we bled with grief

we dropped on bended knees One Nation Under God

in humble prayer

you took so much of what we held dear

But, we stand now with more resolve, our spirit soars true

for the light of hope burns brightest in the darkest of hours

Know this: You who are without soul,

our people are the woven fabric of our country

we are the United States of America, our flag will always stand …

Freedom, Liberty and Justice, engraved in life, echoed in our heroes’ deaths

and unlike you, Our colors will never run and we will never, ever, hide.

God Bless America!