"Dark Red Stains"


Dark red stains
there on the ground
How could this happen?
Bodies lying all around

There's a hole in that building,
a hole from a bomb
I didn't think it was possible,
so many lives are gone

I have a job in that building,
my friend works there too
My friend went to work today,
I stayed home with the flu

I awoke from my nap today
When I heard a loud noise
I'll never forget that sound,
it echoes in my mind

I ran to the door
and when I stepped outside
The sight I saw
was unbelievable to my eyes

I stood in a daze
until I saw the flashing lights
I made my way towards them,
people's eyes were filled with fright

I stood by the building,
My friend's name I tried to shout
But my throat choked up on me,
No words would come out

They started to push us back,
but then I saw my friend
I rushed past the police
Just to hold her hand

Words cannot describe
The hollow feeling I felt inside
As much as I wanted to deny it
Her death was not a lie

It seemed like a bad dream,
But dreams don't hurt this much
I know I can't escape the dark red stains
From my bleeding, aching heart
Written following the Oklahoma City bombing, 1995

Back to the poems
Back to the homepage