Anniversary by Raymond A. Foss
An anniversary Of a moment (if many hours can be but a moment) When pain brought a common numbing A shock, pride, and resolve Smoking buildings Bombed caves A world away
Fifth-five year before In the midst of Pearl Harbor, A prescient son of Nippon postulated - A sleeping bear awoked By a sudden attack, Again from the air That forever changed our innocence The fallibility of our sense Of safety within our shores That danger is out there, over there, not here By hostile hands.
Like squabbling siblings United against the town’s bully Who chose one of their own A nation together Rallying ‘round the flag Terrorists beware We will not forget this anniversary And you don’t deserve flowers. Unless you want lilies.
8/29/2002
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