911

THE BALLAD OF SEPTEMBER ELEVENTH

September eleventh two thousand and one,

A date to remember for centuries to come;

The famed ‘War on Terror’ was started that day,

The war that took thousands of loved ones away.

But the day that it happened began like the others,

Kids started to school after kissing their mothers,

Crowds pushing and shoving they hurried to work

Not knowing that terror in New York would lurk.

For two mighty airplanes by terrorists flown

Headed straight for two towers standing tall and alone,

A target, these towers of fame and renown.

For men knew to strike at America’s heart

They should strike at those towers and tear them apart

And strike at the towers those hijackers did

While those in the towers cowered and hid.

Wicked flames roared up as one plane hit the wall

And America gasped, “Those towers can’t fall.”

Then the second plane hit the first tower’s brother,

And the shock of the impact toppled the other.

The towers sank down crumbled and shamed

Our country’s largest city lay injured and maimed

The terrorists laughed as they saw our dismay

For they knew they had finally gotten their way.

Then America’s president rose up and said

“In the name of the families of all who lie dead

For the sake of the country half a year I have led

For the safety of children fast asleep in their beds

I declare that this thing has come to a head.”

And that very day he declared us at war

Though no one could know what would soon be in store

Much life would be lost in horrible ways,

And the days of the war would be terrible days.

But also would come days of victories won,

And days we’d recoil from the sound of a gun,

But what of New York, what of those still alive?

Buried in rubble they fought to survive.

Brave firefighters strove all day and all night

To bring those in darkness the gift of sunlight;

Thousands of people from states far away

Sent millions of dollars they hoped might help pay.

Finally the rubble was all cleared and gone;

The dead were all buried; the work was all done,

The injured were healed, the captives set free

Those in darkness for hours could finally see.

It seemed like those dark days of horror were finished

In hearts that were paralyzed, fear had diminished,

But after such terror as this country knew

On a day in September so cloudless and blue,

We’ll never, never, never forget

That horrible day when the twin airplanes hit,

September eleventh two thousand and one

A date to remember for centuries to come!

Abigail Kawell 2004