The Eleventh Day
By Sharon Lightfoot
A day of hatred;
A day of pain;
A day of heroes
America: never the same.
Four flights off-course;
Four fiery balls;
Two towers, one field;
The five-sided wall.
Many lives lost;
Many dreams destroyed;
Thousands of new soldiers
To the east are deployed.
Ten years have passed.
The burnt field is now green.
The soldier’s wall is rebuilt.
One new tower can be seen.
Water flows endlessly
Around a large bronze frame.
Fingers stroke the letters
Of a dear one’s name.
The day still brings pain.
The enemy’s hatred lives on.
New heroes are made
In military uniform.
Another anniversary will come.
Four more bells will be rung.
Another prayer will be said;
But let a new song be sung.
Oh God of our fathers;
With your Almighty Hand;
Bring love to the hearts of terrorists;
Bring healing to our land.
