IN THE RUBBLE

In the rubble of yesterday,
Amid the darkness of clouded dust,
A nation of individuals again became "Us".
A diverse family, quarrelsome and bold
But if you strike one of us
Then we become stone cold.

This winged death hurt and stunned,
Killing innocents your victory won.
Prepare yourselves for our repay

We will desolation bring to that family of man
Who thought these warrior deeds and immortality planned.

Our country now remembers what it should be
In this rubble,
this debris.
A single people, we,
Here lit a single candle
A bright clear flame the entire world can see.

Richard E.McGinty
September 11, 2001