Posted by PS on September 13, 2001 at 00:16:11:
How Much Longer?
On a day like any other at the start of honest toil;
Came a day like none would ever be again.
We felt safe and so secure on beloved homeland soil;
Till our "normal" world was dealt a sudden end.
My eyes were filled with horror as I watched the towers burn;
My mind refused to measure its disgust.
Who on earth could vent such hatred on a living fellow man?
Who could do this thing, and label it as "Just"?
Deep inside the tower's chambers lies the corpse of someone's son;
Somewhere near the lifeless daughter of a friend.
Someone's father, someone's mother, someone's neighbour, someone's
child;
How much longer till this suffering can end?
How much longer must the world continue nurturing such hate?
When can "Love of Fellow Man" take centre stage?
How much longer till a person need not fear to lose their mate?
Why must reason be surrendered up to rage?
As I watched the towers crumble into clouds of choking dust;
I could no more stop my tears from flooding through.
And my heart that only dimly understands such spiteful anger,
Asks the unrelenting questions "Why?" and "Who?"
Now my world has changed forever, its complacency destroyed;
For my wife and children's lives I dearly pray.
I resolve to cherish every moment spent with those I love.
Life is fragile. Never waste a single day.
How much longer? How much longer? Some one help me understand.
How much longer? How much longer must we wait?
If we all love peace so much then why accept such wanton madness?
Let there be a final end to mindless hate!
_______________________________________
Rod Ward
Technical Author,
Risk Management Technologies
Perth, Western Australia