To the Twin Towers

Ring around the Trade Center

The World begins to see

My Mother’s hair is burning

My Father’s on his knees.

There is no rain

To stop the fire;

The sky is turning black

My Mother’s face is falling

My Father starts to crack.

Ring around the Trade Center

The World begins to see

My Father’s back is breaking

He slides toward the sea.

There is no rain

To stop the pain;

Hot blood is running cold

The world is turning upside down

The center cannot hold.

Ring around the Trade Center

The World begins to see

My Mother’s legs are buckling

Her shadow’s flying free.

There is no rain

The world’s insane;

My heart is turning black

No prayers of hope can stop this fall

The clock cannot turn back.

Ring around the Trade Center

The World begins to see

As eyes look toward the clearing sky,

A hole,

Where life should be.

Ring around the Trade Center

The World begins to see

There is a reign

Of terror

Breeding hate and misery.

Ring around the Trade Center

The World begins to see

My Mother is Democracy,

My Father, Liberty.

My Sisters and my Brothers holding hands

In unity

Circle round

This hallowed ground

Where life can still be free.

Ring around the Trade Center

The World begins to see

Ashes, Ashes,

We all fall down.

Deborah S. Hamm

October 4, 2001 Back