Terror has gripped us
with hideous sights
that stay in our memories
    through long days and nights.   

    Our flags are at half-mast—
a nation that cares
will all join together
in grieving and prayers.

    Hearts are now heavy—
a war has begun,
we know there’ll be losses
of fathers and sons.

Women will now serve
    on those foreign shores—
mothers and daughters
will sacrifice more.

Those who are age-ed
    remember wars past—
many men dying
for peace that must last.

Terrorist strikes
tried hard to succeed
in wrenching our country’s
patriotism and creed.

But there’ll be no glory
in what they have done
to the greatest of nations
under this planet’s sun.

They failed in their mission,
       we won’t be denied—   
the right to retaliate
is now justified.

So people unite,
    be proud, also brave—
they cannot defeat us
 for power they crave.
               
*****

Oh Beautiful America,
you always shall be
    a beacon in darkness—
“Land of the Free.”

          
  Tamara Hillman
    ©9/11/2001