9/11 Requiem

Into a cloud of dust, the towers fell

down to piles of rubble and burning heaps.

Into the burning fires our heroes ran

climbing stairs, flight by flight to save the day.

We saw them jumping, but heard not their screams.

Messages some left let everyone hear.

And still the imprint of that day cries out:

Never to forget what happened to them.

Sifting through ashes deep, we found little.

Most of what we dug up was just more dust.

But then we’d find a lock or strand of hair,

And what seemed tedious screamed out to us.

We saw them jumping, but heard not their screams.

Messages some left let everyone hear.

And still the imprint of that day cries out:

Never to forget what happened to them.

Some of them intervened, thus preventing

more broken hearts and dreams, grief and despair.

Rolling in, they stopped them and saved the day.

They forced their hijackers to ditch their plans.

We saw them jumping, but heard not their screams.

Messages some left let everyone hear.

And still the imprint of that day cries out:

Never to forget what happened to them.