He stared toward a cloudless sky
A tear was present in his eye.
What did he see I wondered loud
this man of strength did not look proud.

I stood and watched a box filled square
contemplating upon his stare.
What are his eyes held witness to?
What brought forth such tears of painful hue?

Electronically we were connected,
our lives attached, and now affected.
What horror brought upon his gaze?
What caused such pain seen mid the haze?

Some sounds not known were heard aloud
and people screamed amid the crowd.
Mind raced….. to sense what view they saw,
the fireman’s face was present more.

His sorrowed eyes contained despair,
what was he seeing standing there?
I could not move, I stood transfixed
my view of hell soon ever nixed.

The human toll still to be known
our feeling safe was overthrown.
For as I stared I recognized…..
……..what caused those tears in a fireman’s eyes.

Humanity was being lost,
Helplessly we learned the cost;
The sound of people, people,… jumping down
from towers strong in our New York town.

He bore my witness through those flames,
created horror from terror planes.
Our Nation’s Eagle cried,….. as the metal cracked
two once proud towers stood attacked.

Locked in horror all there stood,
bewildered eyes saw nothing good.
They viewed a scene of great despair
…’mid evils smoke, and hate filled air.

Connected witness we became,
to terror’s rage and human pain.
Trapped atop a blinding heat
once moms and dads upon the street.

A “better option”?… caused by hate,
to leap the flames and own their fate.
More horrid thought we’d never known
not from before the glass had blown.

Their’s was not an option for the stair,
their only choice, now, locked in prayer.
I cannot grasp the thoughts that crossed…
….the mind of the loved soon to be lost.

As victims now…. their life soon ceased
a hurling body – soul released;
and for those who bore such witness, pain;
these memories seered will long remain.

Connected all we stood aghast,
the murdered souls of victims past.
Their bodies torn, their spirit lost;
Memories now…….  A lifeless cost.

But what we have now to decide,
to place upon this place they died.
The Blood-soaked ground and empty sky,
bear witness to our tear filled eye.

A memory now so deeply burned,
their sacrifice for us was learned.
The hurt, the pain, the bitter sorrow,
must guide us now toward tomorrow.

For those we loved and families lost,
no gold of man can count the cost.
Through the eagles’ tears our nations price
must honor those of sacrifice.

How do we honor courage bold,
and warm our souls despite the cold.
A daunting charge, our mortal stage,
reflecting their courage amid our rage.

First decade past, and now we find
our hearts, our souls, our tears, our mind.
We harken back and feel those tears,
the wound not healed despite the years.

Memories honored must remain,
our charge is now to cherish pain.
For souls we lost and sorrow bound
respect, we must, such hallowed ground.

By Sundance, for the families…..

Share