On a Day Like Any Other...




It was a day like any other

Heavy traffic-
Morning train 3 minutes late-
Sounds of coffee being poured-
Phones beginning to ring-

and the jets were getting closer

Typical morning talk of weekend wins
and losses of favorite teams.
Chatting about son's and daughter's 
first weeks back to school,
A sale at Macy's tomorrow!

and the first jet hit with a horrendous crash

Sounds of an explosion filled the air.
Everyone looked at one another
in horror and began to run for the doors. 
Flames shot out from the jagged edges
of the wounded building. 

and another jet was approaching

Then, another explosion, startling misguided
composure into chaos as buildings began 
to sway. People ran for their lives in panic.

and flames began to ravage the buildings

The flames came closer and some
ran to open places to avoid the fires
spreading through the halls.

and some chose to fly

They flew like eagles with wings
spread wide on a desparate journey 
to a new and faroff land.

and the ambulances and firemen came

They stumbled up stairways, past bodies
and crowds of people struggling
to get out, they, themselves, gasping
from lack of oxygen.

and the buildings began to sway
and rumble

Flames met them at every door;
Girders groaned and melted;
Walls and floors began to fall away 
like a house of cards tumbling.

Some managed to get away,
and some did not

and their stories were told
in pictures upon a wall. There
were flowers and mementos
scattered, there;
A place where grief was taller than
the buildings_ where family's lives
were shattered and people wept.

and their spirits shall live forever
in history

Those innocent lambs sent to slaughter
for living in a free country!

and America showed her colors that
day

Red, for the people who died that day,
White, for their purity of heart and heroism,
Blue, for the tears and grief of thousands
of people. 

--

Judith Anne Labriola




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