To All Who Will Never Forget September 11, 2001
by Katie Canton

The dark cloud lifts,
revealing in a haze of smoldering ash and a chaos of haze
a confusion of emotions.

Fear and pain so great
it swallows everything in its path
and passes slowly through the nation
like a black spirit
leaving us humbled and speechless.

Helpless tears
are flowing rivers
which empty into one vast sea of sorrow
in which we all bathe.

Those who once stood tall
are like orphaned children
frantically searching
for some vague understanding of this act.

In the midst of all this terror
a nation of individuals
unite to form a family.
A fresh pride fills our hearts
as eyes watch our colors flying strong
at half mast.
We all struggle to comprehend
yet we are blinded by our hate of hatred.

What is justice?
Where do we find it?
Will revenge bring relief
to our aching hearts
reeling thoughts?
How can anything but time
truly do this?
Will bombs warm the dead?

Let us mourn in innocence, not hate,
allowing our faith
to motivate our dreary souls
and for sympathy, mercy, and compassion
to be the comforting arms that we fall into
in our darkest hours.

We must all walk together
through the shadows of night
to reach the light of a new and brighter day.

Together we hurt; together we heal.

Peace.

Katie Canton is a 15 year-old member of St. James’ Episcopal Church in San Francisco, California.