 |
This is the poem that I wrote and attached to the "fence" at the Oklahoma City bombing site of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, on April 19, 1995. The fence became a memorial for all that were affected by that event. We were very affected in the "heartland" as nothing like this had ever occured here. And I was affected because many of my friends lost family or friends as well as many of my friends were involved in restoring the stained glass windows. And the fact that we were the second choice city to be bombed.
Here's my poem:
Something Happened
something so AWFUL
there aren't really any words
to express what happened in this place.
When it happened the stained glass windows of the churches were shattered as were the hundreds and thousands of lives that were left in pieces.
The stained glass windows in the church were scooped up and put in boxes. Endless hours spent to sort, examine, and finally put the pieces back together like many huge puzzels. Some pieces were so broken and damaged they were lost, beyond repair. Some pieces had to be replaced with new glass.
America has watched as Oklahoma has scooped up the pieces of thousands and thousands of lives that were shattered by the awfulness of April 19th. Together we spend endless hours putting back together the puzzle of our lives. We will never be the same, the people lost can never be brought back, but maybe as healing begins, new people can help us put together the pieces of our lives.
I feel very tied to these stained glass windows for that is what I do in life, make beautiful stained glass windows. As well as many of my friends rebuilt and restored these windows.
Now as the light passes through those brillant colors of stained glass windows of St. Joseph's Old Cathedral may that bring healing to all who need.
