My annual 9/11 tribute offer... "For the Fallen"

[Boston John Doucette]

Shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attack I wrote and recorded the following poem.
If you would like to hear the recording and have RealPlayer on your computer, e-mail me and I will send you my audio version. It's worth the time just to hear my friend Heather Brazel sing.
BJD

For the Fallen   

We took them for granted, those nameless faces,
Who risked their lives daily in fire and flood;
No longer the strangers we thought them to be,
But Brothers in anguish of flesh, bone and blood.

With reddened, glazed eyes over dust-clogged masks
They search for our daughters and sons;
Hour after hour they silently pray
"Lord, let me find just one."

"Tommy! Where are you? Frank, are you there?"
Their voices are lost in the noise;
They pull from the rubble the symbols of life–
A wallet, some letters, kids' toys.

The cop from Queens collapses in grief:
He's found his brother's Shield;
A fireman moves to take his place–
For America refuses to yield...

The stockbroker from the eightieth floor,
The mail clerk from basement so deep;
The  Chaplain killed as the Tower crashed down–
How all of America weeps!

The entire world was attacked that day,
All Christians, Muslims and Jews;
Thousands of brothers and sisters are gone
Because of just a few.

To destroy our precious Freedom
Our enemies go to great length;
But all still underestimate
The American people's strength.

The Courage and the Valor
Of our heroes shout out loud:
We shall not be vanquished!
AMERICA STANDS PROUD!   

©2001 Boston John Doucette

bostonjohndoucette@onewest.net

[The Arapaho Kid]

BJD:  No one seemed to be jumping on your thread here, so I thought I would.  Excellent poem!  I would consider it an honor to listen to your friend sing this.  Send me a PM and I'll shoot you my e-mule address.

Arapaho

[Big John Denny]

The bad guys have paid a heavy price so far for their cowardly attack, but they still owe more.