Standing Here Now

You know?
Standing here now, looking back on that day,
Not one emotion has changed at all-
The first one, puzzlement; The second, fear-
Then came the worry; sadness; grief; and the endless flow of tears-
They each, renewed themselves, stepping up a level each time-
Finally, an empty stairwell-
That was the moment; The moment The Towers fell-
Then it started all over again; One just had no way to know-
When it all would end; This madness; This hell-

You know?
Standing here now, looking back on that day,
Not one face has changed; I still remember them all-
From the confused to the frightened-
From the ashes arose so few-
Crowds of faces, began to gather-
Oh, Now what do we do?
Most had never been there; No thoughts of war at home-
Not here on our own land;
This is still, America, the place where Freedom roams.

You know?
Standing here now, looking back on that day,
Through all the smoke; The fallen ash;
Beneath the twisted steel-
We felt violated; Raped of all we knew-
Ripped to shreds like paper;
but, they had to know, we’d heal.

You know?
Standing here now, looking back on that day,
It wasn’t about the city; Nor was it about the fear;
It wasn’t the smoke; Fire or ash;
All that was just brick and mortar; Concrete and metal beams-
It had nothing to do with buildings; Silver; Gold or cash-
They wanted us to question Freedom;
and how it came to be-
And you know? Standing here now and looking back-
It’s quite plain to see.

You know?
Standing here now and looking back on that day,
Still, we are so much higher than they will ever be.
We have something stronger; More powerful than man-
We’ve a Nation Under God; A Nation Proud and Free.

You know?
Standing here now and looking back on that day;
They didn’t change a thing-
Freedoms’ still the American way.

© Lisa Hilbers
9/11/2006