The Lady
I wonder what she thought
As she stood there, strong and tall.
She couldn't turn away,
She was forced to watch it all.

Did she long to offer comfort
As her country bled?
With her arm forever frozen
High above her head.

She could not shield her eyes
She could not hide her face
She just stared across the water
Keeping Freedom's place.

The smell of smoke and terror
Somehow reduced her size
So small within the harbor
But still we recognized...

How dignified and beautiful
On a day so many died
I wonder what she thought,
And I know she must have cried.
Author Unknown

Cathedral Of Tears

Jutting from the rubble
Up through the smoky haze
Like spires of a Cathedral
Where the "believer" prays.

Seven stories of heartache
Left from the hundred-ten
Of those two mighty towers
Never to be seen again.

For thousands who have perished
And the loved ones they leave
A monument to all of us
Who shed our tears, and grieve.

In its eerie setting
There was a sort of beauty
Standing guard over those
Who died doing their duty.

A strange sense of peace
Amidst the scene of ruin
As others search for comrades
Who died, doing what they're doing.

There's been heroes by the hundreds
And some stories, never known
But in God's Cathedral
They'll sit upon His throne.

The "Cathedral Of Tears"
Will last in our mind's eye
As we bow our heads
And ask, "Why, dear Lord? Why?"

Written by
Del aka Abe Jones
9-1-02

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

Matthew 5:4

Where Was I ?

I was feeling kind of ill
And stayed home that day
Was watching the morning news
As usual, that's my way.

Katie, Matt, Ann and Al
Were doing what they do best
But, little did they know
About that day of "our test".

I don't remember what the "news" was
Probably the same old thing
There were some elections
Part of what, makes "Freedom Ring".

Then, the "breaking news"
About a "terrible accident"
Even that was bad enough
But, much worse, where it went.

I called a friend at work
And while I talked to her
The second plane struck
And then I felt the "terror".

The tears began to flow
And my heart began to ache
As I hoped, it was a bad dream
Or some terrible mistake.

But, as that day went on
In a blurred, slow motion haze
I realized our country's history
Had moved to an unknown phase.

The security of our borders
Had been forever changed
And the way we think about ourselves
Drastically re-arranged.

We're in the "real world" now
And, that's so sad, I thought
But, we'll have to make the best of it
Whether we like it, or not.

A year has come, to pass
But, that day will linger here
In my heart and mind
As, I shed another tear.

I hope we've learned some lessons
But, I do it with some doubt
Because, hate, greed and jealousy
Is, what mankind seems to tout.

Written By
Del aka Abe Jones
8-18-02

A Different Calling

This year the "Memorial" has changed
It's different than those past
A different kind of war
From a different, "stone cast".

The battle is at Freedom's doorstep
With heroes of a different kind
Now, all of us are "Soldiers"
Against, the terrorists "sick" mind.

Civilians have always been
A part of every war
But, in this day and age
We must do, so much more.

If we expect to win this Battle
We must all join hands
In a strong, determined circle
With, Freedom lovers from all lands.

This world has changed forever
"The American Way"
There's so much more at stake
Than, the way we live and play.

Since 9-11 we're learning
The horrors of this world
Can even come to where
Freedoms Flag is, unfurled.

This day was meant to Honor
All, Military Heroes have endured
Now, we all could join their Ranks
If our resolve, is not assured.

So, let us all take a moment
To respect all those, "Fallen"
And vow, we're all up to the task
Of this, different "Calling".

Del "Abe" Jones
May 26, 2002
To see more of Del's Poetry,
visit his site
http://mywebpage.netscape.com/delabejones/page1.html