For Sherry’s Challenge

“I will give you your first and last line,

And the entire center should be a reflection

Of what you saw, what you heard, and/or what you felt,

On that day, and/or all the days since.”

AD Member Sherry Heim

Darkness rains from clouds of ash

As I watch the horrific images on TV

But it doesn’t take very long for pictures

Of real heroes to emerge right in front of me

There were the truly heroic firemen and police officers

Who rushed in to assist never thinking about their own lives

As did the very heroic paramedics and very ordinary citizens

Who compassionately tried to alleviate any and all victim strife

And there was the heroic Mayor of New York City

Who jumped in not caring if his expensive suit got soiled

Unlike many politicians who would prefer to give speeches

Who believe themselves above the common man and royal

And there were the selfless volunteers from all over our vast nation

Who rushed to the World Trade Center with their very needed skills

Some of them even brought their heroic Search and Rescue canines

Who with every discovery of a still living soul gave me such a thrill

These very valiant heroes of this most devastating heart wrenching event

Made me truly see hear and feel a renewed hope for the future of mankind

From that day forward until I saw the same type heroes emerging after Katrina

I realized that we must all open our eyes to compassion and stop being so blind 

Too well, I will always now recall

The horrific heart wrenching tragedy that day

But thanks to all those who became my instant heroes

I will never again believe that each and every one of us

Cannot contribute something - in some compassionate way

“What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us;

What we have done for others remains, and is immortal.” 

Albert Pike

©2006, Mr. Ed