Nancy L. Meek

SILENT SKIES

Tonight the skies are silent
From planes ordered to the ground
A government-issued warning
Till the terrorists could be found

The American people are grieving
For innocent victims killed
With malice, without warning
Thousands of hearts forever stilled

They were hard-working citizens
Merely in search of the American dream
A job, a home and a family
Enjoying their lives in freedom’s beam

But tonight the skies are silent
Their voices being heard no more
No mothers kissing their children
No fathers coming through the door

Friends and neighbors met their end
Uncles, Aunts, sons and daughters, too
Nieces, nephews, grandparents
Killed today by a demonic few

Yes, the skies are silent tonight
All airports have been closed
Government buildings set on fire
From forces of evil imposed

We watched in abject horror
As the towers burst into flames
American lives becoming shattered
The victims of vile human games

Oh, my God, we could not believe
What our eyes told us was true
Our very own passenger planes
Were slicing the towers in two

Disguised as one of our own
Balls of fire billowed into the sky
Out of the dragon’s mouth it came
Belching hatred on the towers on high

People came running from everywhere
To help out where they could
Americans all helping one another
United in their brotherhood

People were hanging out of windows
The flames licking behind them there
Some in business suits began jumping
Their matching ties flapping in the air

But, the moment was short-lived
For the towers came crashing down
One after the other, shuddering
Steel and dust crashing to the ground

The cloud of dust sent them fleeing
Away from the tragic site
Running in panic for their lives,
Running with all their might

When the dust finally settled
The survivors returned to lend a hand
For this is the American way
To pull together, helping one’s fellow man

The streets of the Capitol are silent tonight
As silent as the vacant skies
Everywhere there is a deathly quiet
As we ponder on the whys

Shock gives way to anger
For the atrocities we’ve been dealt
The attacks by these butchers
Every American has felt

They want to frighten us into chaos
Bring our great nation to the ground
Destroy and divide us, like the towers
Laughing as they bring us down

But we will not let that happen
For united we will stay
Fighting for all that’s right and good
Defending freedom all the way

We will seek out those responsible
Make them answer for what they’ve done
Holding them utterly accountable
For the death of every one

What did these Americans do
To deserve this act of war?
Silenced, may they rest in peace
Free at last on heaven’s shore

Tonight, among the buildings’ rubble
Another innocent victim dies
We look to heaven for the reasons
But, for now, all we hear are silent skies

©Copyright September 11, 2001 by Nancy L. Meek

FLAMES IN THE SKY

A symbol of world peace, the towers stood
Representing man’s belief in humanity
Individual dignity, sharing in worldly brotherhood
Twin towers rising above human insanity

From countries the world over, they came
Satisfying a compelling need for world peace
Joining hands, cooperating in world trade
Fulfilling a dream which would never cease

Then evil forces slammed into the monument
On September the eleventh, two thousand one
As the world watched in utter astonishment
Plumes of smoke and dust blotting out the sun

“Oh, my God! Oh my God!” came the screams
As those on the streets looked up from below
Never, ever, in anyone’s wildest dreams
Could they imagine such a horrific blow.

Inside the trembling towers, explosions came
Vomiting flames across the morning sky
Extracting from tongues God’s holy name
Burning prayers that loved ones would not die

Trapped beyond hope, some victims called home
Leaving last goodbyes to loved ones on tape
Incredibly calm, some must have known
For them, there would be no escape

We must make this country a better place to live
Free from terrorists who harbor evil intent
Safe for those who only wish peace to give
A good example to countries on every continent

To do otherwise is to be the eagle in flames
Falling from the sky by terrorists’ evil plot
We must fight in this arena of human games
Protecting our freedoms with all we’ve got

Many years in those towers, some had worked
Surviving the bombing in nineteen ninety three
But little did they know in their future lurked
Suicidal terrorists on another killing spree

For these victims, there would be no more chances
To battle the flames of a satanic pyre
Confirmed through one child’s upward glances,
“Look, Mommy, even the birds are on fire!”

©Copyright September 22, 2001 by Nancy L. Meek

VIEW FROM GROUND ZERO

Papered words cannot express the somber view
Of a thousand ants removing rubble, pail-by-pail
Steeled faces searching for loved ones long overdue
Feared buried forever beneath the terrorists’ trail.

An “all call” sends workers scrambling from the pile
A creak or moan sends buildings swaying in the wind
“Go, go, go… get out!” stalls the rescuers for just awhile
Feeling the same panic the victims felt back then.

Though exhausted and edgy, they return again and again
Determined in their quest to find, too slowly uncover
Those who had survived, those who met their end
A sister, a brother, a husband, father, or mother.

But the earth goes on turning, standing still for none
Sunsets too soon becoming just another sunrise
Families waiting for news on a missing loved one
Who disappeared when the towers fell from the skies.

We go through the motions, tending to daily affairs
Hearts beating on, yet tears still falling as drenching rain
Quivering lips still mumbling unanswered prayers
Each body recovered bringing yet another round of pain

We tell ourselves this horror is merely a bad dream
That we will wake up tomorrow and it will be gone
But the memories leap unbidden and at night we scream
Facing horrors hidden in life’s sweet and sour song

We have lost an innocence which will not return again
Know now the fragility of life, brought home in spades,
Our invincibility ruptured mingle with the endless pain
And the world we had come to cherish quickly fades.

We feel our tempers rising, our patience growing short
With waves of emotions, at times, washing over us all
Disturbing thoughts filling our heads from the latest report
And we pray to God our great nation will not fall.

It helps to talk with others who listen and care
As the ants continue to dig into the cavity of the earth
Going about their job as the world weeps with despair
Joining together in prayer, sharing a new spiritual rebirth

We have seen the decency of loving, giving people
Who have made the grief of strangers their very own
We have rang freedom’s bell from the highest steeples
Rising from the ashes, stronger than we’ve ever known

As a new morning dawns, a sleeping giant awakes
Rising from the rubble of broken dreams and lost lives
Rolling up its sleeves, prepared to do whatever it takes
To reassure a hurting world that freedom still survives

Overcome by the scent of America’s dying roses,
Their stomachs long emptied upon the sacred ground
The ants plod on, determined, covering their noses
Searching for brothers still trapped within the mound

In the blink of an eye, our dreams have been changed
By a new resolve to bring terrorism to its knees
Each victim found bringing knowing glances exchanged
Man’s inhumanity-to-man prompting heavenward pleas

Pail-by-pail, brick-by-brick, the colony will rebuild
With determination, we will not let these terrorists win
Enduring the fight for the sake of a dream yet fulfilled
With so much at stake, how can we not let the battle begin

Passersby are turned away from the crime scene in despair
And it has been said that if you look up, and if you really try
When the sun is just so, and the clouds are just right in the air,
You can still see the towers there, stretching into the sky.

QUIET POWER

Among the bustling Manhattan streets
A crane stands, silhouetted against the sky
Hovering hauntingly above the somber scene
Its quiet power, like soot… still stinging the eye

New Yorkers will never be the same again
Despite grandiose and pretentious displays
For dedicated police officers and firemen,
Not movie stars, are the celebrities these days

Fresh bouquets of flowers grace the fence
Placed there by persistent, caring hands
Offering their heartfelt token of remembrance
Its quiet power only the grieving understands

Along the busy street, a memorial to fallen heroes
Still brings a tear to even the strongest of men
Putting on stoic faces, they turn from the photos
Its quiet power, like grapnels… still holding them

Among four-star restaurants and fashion shows
A new era comes… of things real, versus the fake
Cool fashions discarded in favor of old clothes
Resurrecting what matters in the terrorists’ wake

A new epicenter has replaced the old
As eyes turn toward that gash in the sky
Tearing hearts once upon a time grown cold
Who know now, some things money can’t buy

The fires in the pit seem to have stopped burning
The city, each day, looking less-ravaged than before
When the world for many stopped turning
When priorities became not so important anymore

Suspended in baskets overlooking the site
Workers gaze somberly down from the sky
Reciting prayers for those lost to the fight
The need to cry mingling with a loving goodbye

Among the workers digging in the heart of it
Bodies still emerge, draped in red, white and blue
Escorted away… finally free of the towering pit
Their quiet power, like dust… still clinging to you.

While the search continues for one, Osama bin Laden
His image forever looms, from every angle and view
Reminding us of a day which will never be forgotten
Its quiet power, like missing faces… still haunting you.