Families of the New York disaster
Know only too well the length
Of time in a heartbeat.
A split second, reeling in disbelief
The consuming pain of reality,
The body slow to absorb the news.
The mind rejecting - holding onto yesterday
Not able to look ahead or back
Struggling to survive the now.
In a heartbeat -- life changes.
The world seems still.... dead,
The music has stopped,
The clock of pain ticks loudly,
Drowning in the tide of tears
That never totally cease.
Pages of time unfold slowly,
Prayers, poems and promises,
Offer love, strength, until once again
The music starts softly. All done
In the length of a heartbeat.