Submissions

FORWARD
(Submitted by A.S. c2001)

Forward, always forward,
the wheel only turns one way.
It will neither stop, nor reverse,
though many are the times we wish it would.

Yet while we must go forward, we can still look back,
and remember,
and cry for what we have lost
and rejoice in what we had.
And pledge to do what we can to see it never happens again.

Forward always forward,
for the guilty, the wheel turns with menace,
suddenly "friends" are no longer friendly,
falling over themselves to deny any connection,
hiding places that once seemed so safe,
seem to resemble nothing but cold dark tombs.
Perhaps even the darkest souls would reverse the wheel if now they could?

Yet neither compassion nor cowardly dread can turn back the wheel of time
It's turning is said to heal, yet in the darkest hours this seems unlikely at best.

Healing does not mean forgetting.
Somehow we go on,
forward, always forward,
the first sparks of joy arrive with a trace of guilt,
but inside, to go on,
to live, to love, to laugh,
is what those who have gone would wish for those who have stayed.

FROM THE SKIES
(Submitted by CJW c2001)

On a Tuesday morning bright and clear
I gave my girl a kiss
then watched her board a school bus
never knowing what I would miss.

I'll never kiss her cheek again
I'll never hear her cries
one life destroyed and one life lost
when terror fell...
... from the skies.

Who will teach her how to pray?
Who'll hear her dreams and cares?
And who'll be there when the preacher says
"Who gives this woman to wed"?

She'll cry at night and call for Mom
Her calls will be in vain
because of a day when strangers came
and hate fell...
... from the skies.

So now I'll watch my daughter grow
as I sit at the feet of God
and I'll pray for peace throughout the world
while my tears fall...
... from the skies.

The Gentle Heroes
c2001 Michael Maczynski

Within the realm of mankind there are those that exceed
the expectations of the human soul
for they are the epitome of good will, and the extended hand of God,
they come when called no questions asked, giving of themselves and their time
neither for money nor fame, but only to serve their fellow man
they believe themselves neither as heroes nor gods
but simply as doing their job.
Their answer to the calls of need is, How can I help?
their answer to the danger is, It needs to be done
Their answer to their death is, Please take care of my family
for their is no greater sacrifice than to give your life for another
yet they do this without thought
willing to leave behind their families for a stranger
offering to give their life for someone not known
and once gone, their gentle souls committed to the afes
never again to be replaced
Let us never forget these perished men and women
Take one moment to honor their passing
for ours is the greatest loss of all. They lived to serve us
and in death they are the gentle heroes we have loved and lost.
Let their memory shine forever, a monument to humanity.

      Across the Ocean
    c2001 Colin Shepherd, London England

And will you take my hand my friend
my friend across the ocean
and will you weep with me my friend
my friend across the ocean
and will you pray for peace with me my friend
my friend across the ocean
for I can see your banner fly from far
across the ocean
for I can see your banner fly
at twilight and in the morning
my only hope is peace for you
for peace forever dawning.

     God Bless America and God help us all.