RICHARD D. PRESTON

THEY DIDNT DIE ALONE

God bless the home front, the land of the free
Make it safe for our people; we put our trust in thee
The times they have been changing, just like Bob Dylan once said
By a foreign hand, a terrorist band,
N.Y.C streets ran Red

The heartland of America also bleeds today
There are loved ones who are missing, suddenly taken away
Heroes who gave their lives, without a thought for their own
Wish there had been time to tell them we loved them,
and that they didn't die alone

Stand strong my brothers who have seen blood shed before
Help those around you, comfort, reassure
This ain't the battlefield, and this ain't Vietnam
This is America,
we gotta protect her from harm

From the skies came the terror that rocked the whole world
Shook the stars on Old Glory, but now the red white and blue is unfurled
United together for the first time in years
Our nation looks different...
through eyes filled with tears

The times they are a changin', the Star Spangled Banners being sung
We just wanna let the world know we are freedoms daughters and sons
We don't buckle in the hard times; these colors will not run
Our liberty often shines brightest
after the setting of the Sun

And the heart land of America still bleeds today
Our loved ones are missing, suddenly taken away
Heroes gave their lives without a thought for their own
Wish there had been time to tell them,
They didn't die alone

Wish there had been time to tell them
they didn't die alone...

©Copyright September 22, 2001 by Richard D. Preston

THE DAY THAT JESUS WEPT

Jesus Weeps The heavens filled with smoke
signs of evil from below
man destroying man
a devastating toll

God’s children have been taken
long before their prime
senseless acts of violence
for reasons hard to find

The angels watched in horror
as the devil cast lives into the wind.
Exploding glass and fire from hell
crumbled the mighty twins

Tears fell upon the streets of Glory
As upward the black smoke swept.
The innocent rose to meet the Lord
yet on this day even Jesus wept

With outstretched arms He took them in
their bodies were battered and bruised.
And Jesus wiped away their tears;
in an instant their souls renewed

“Why dear Lord?” they asked of Him.
“How could this have come to pass?
So many lives, so many friends
consumed within the blast.”

Your souls are now in heaven.
Empty shells remain below.
There is no end to earthly violence
but here are the streets of gold.