random winds.
a tornado,
a hurricane,
strong straight line winds
are capable
of destroying
all--everything
caught in its path.
they're capricious,
these random winds
that suddenly
strike, sometimes with
little warning;
they don't care who
will survive or
who dies today.
those that live are
forever changed
by the forces
that they had no
control over,
altered by chance,
by random winds.

terror is like that.

random winds that
september ripped
buildings...skylines...
people...apart.
in one moment,
our lives were touched
by horror, the
devastation
we felt nearly
destroyed our hearts.
too many of
our loved ones died,
far too many
heroes paid the
ultimate price.
but--we will rise.
we will rise, from
the ashy depths,
from the debris,
we will unite,
our bruised, battered
hands united
as one...we will
rise...we WILL rise.

(C) Karla Dorman, 2003.