The Colors Of The Brave |  | We arose a peaceful nation
On a cool September morn.
Some still slept across the land
Their day, as yet, unborn.
Once more we proceeded
Through our rituals long held.
Prepared, once more, to join the day,
Into the streets propelled.
And in the soaring towers
Of the city in the sky,
The citizens in steel and glass
Toiled dutifully on high.
When through the azure canopy,
With fire on its tongue,
There flew a bird far from its course
Still carrying its young.
Piloted by Hatred
The winged beast took aim,
Then entered the grand structure
As a monstrous orb of flame.
Thousands stared, transfixed
By the horror far above,
And witnessed Satan’s vicious scheme,
His bold assault on Love.
Then from a mist of disbelief
Another bird emerged,
And flew a course to that dark point
Where life and death converge.
Blackness masked the heavens
As the pyre blazed and roared
While the coursing stream of victims
Sought the haven of earth’s floor.
Standing tall in the inferno,
Suffering from those crippling wounds,
The sibling spires surrendered
To become a martyrs’ tomb.
Then a pall of ashen sorrow,
Like a shroud across this land,
Draped the heart of every woman,
Every child and every man.
From that silent veil of mourning
Rose a chorus faint but clear,
And a harmony of righteous rage
Dispelled the fog of fear.
And this country, now united
By a common sacred cause,
Called for war on the blasphemers,
Desecrators of God’s law.
All throughout this mighty nation
Were the stars and stripes unfurled,
And hoisted proudly o’er the land
Declaring to the world,
“We have seen the face of Evil,
And inhaled its rancid smell.
We have met the devil’s agents.
We have viewed the gates of Hell.
“We vow never to surrender
To the fears that Terror breeds,
Nor permit the soil of Freedom
To be sown with Hatred’s seeds.
“We will strike the foes of Reason.
We will hunt the faceless cowards.
We will fight with tireless fervor
Until victory is ours.”
And the nation marched, determined
Not to be the Darkness’ slave,
Under banners decorated
With the colors of the brave;
The Red of patriots’ courage.
The White of pure intent.
The Blue of God’s own justice
Into battle, Heaven sent. | J. Terrence McDermott
Copyright 2001 |
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