We lost our innocence that fateful day
Our backs could no longer be turned away
As the world’s injustice struck down on our land
We struggled incessantly to understand
How such ruthless fury could be such a surprise
We had all seen the world through blinded eyes
Rising up from the ashes, we vowed to prevail
But the life we had known now seemed so surreal
Nations united to share in our pain
Our small place in time was no longer the same
Though the history of Earth had spanned millions of years
Time now stood still amidst anguish and tears
You would swear the devastation that we wore on our face
Transcended the universe to the far corners of space
We were but a speckle in the great scheme of life
Who had all fallen victim to intolerance and strife
We looked to each other for the courage to cope
In the solace of strangers came a new wave of hope
And with that, a new wind blew in with the tide
And washed our great nation with promise and pride
It was some sort of energy or higher power
That graced us with strength in our darkest hour
We came together to mourn all those killed
Then pronounced emphatically that we would rebuild
One year has now passed and our hearts have healed
And the flaws of our government have all been revealed
And though the rage and despair have now slipped away
We are never the same since that fateful day.
~Jackie Pitts