DEDICATED TO ALL THE HEROES OF 9/11

The World Came Down

The World in fire and smoke and tears came down;

Our lives as papers fluttered through the air;

Wind carried dust and prayers throughout the town

And world; both far and near, we all were there.

We heard the cries and watched the dreadful crash

Where we were, which we always shall recall,

Saw men as ghosts cloaked in a veil of ash

Who appeared and fled for nowhere at all.

In the midst of confusion and debris

Were heroes who were willing there to give

Their lives in such devoted bravery,

All in the hope that others there could live,

And many did exactly that, and they

Live on; as heroes they'll forever stay.

Looking back now still gives us cause to weep;

To think that day our history went awry,

Which since has robbed us of our breath and sleep,

Began as any 'neath September sky.

Who knew this beautiful day soon would see

Five thousand souls rise with the smoke to dwell

With God in Heaven for eternity,

And nineteen more descend in fire to Hell.

How sad it took this terror and demise,

These lives, to make us proud and free and one;

We'll not forget the world changed right before our eyes

When rubble stands no more before the rising sun.

A flag now waves against that silhouette;

The World came down, but we are standing yet.

Tatum Taylor

Age 13 - when poem was written (now age 20)

October 2001