A Tribute to Mothers and Fathers Who Were Left Behind

At a scene depicting the gates of hell,

Dense smoke hovered over the city like a tattered shroud

Over smudged slabs of cement and twists of steel girders

As stifled sobs of despair rose from a milling crowd.

People of all creeds and all walks of life

had gathered together for a work filled day,

Morning coffee and doughnuts had been hurriedly consumed

Mid laughter and stories that chased troubled away.

Ongoing activity was already in motion,

Reminiscing events they already enjoyed;

In a flashing few moments it suddenly ended -

In a fleeting few minutes ... too much was destroyed.

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The day of mourning dawned cold, wet and dreary

As the heavens kept weeping for those who knew naught.

Who lay cold and still 'neath the mountains of rubble

And could not ask, "Dear Lord... what hast thou wrought?"

Thousands of hopes and dreams had vanished,

Thousands of prayers were stilled.

Thousands of families whose lives just ended

When thousands were needlessly killed.

As rescuers changed shifts and stowed away their gear,

The lonely night had come on with a silent dread.

Shards of splintering glass still lay glistening wet

As the skies still dripped tears for the numerous dead.

At a barricade remained a time weary couple

Clothes caked with mud and rain soaked dust.

They pleaded to go past the barrier.

Crying, "you just don't understand... we must, we MUST!"

The guard put his arm around their shoulders

And tried to lead them away from the site...

But with tears in their eyes they firmly replied,

"No, we'll not go quietly into the night."

Still ... they demanded steadfast and would not move away.

As they declared, "our work is not yet done..."

"We'll make no other demands, but let us dig with our hands till we find our children .... our daughter and son."