One

By Cheryl Sawyer

As the soot and dirt and ash rained down,
              we became one color.
As we carried each other down the stairs
              of the burning building,
                            we became one class.
As we lit candles of waiting and hope,
              we became one generation.

As the firefighters and police officers
              fought their way into the inferno
                            we became one gender.
As we fell to our knees
              in prayer for strength,
                            we became one faith.
As we whispered or shouted words of encouragement,
              we spoke one language.
As we gave our blood in lines a mile long,
              we became one body.
As we mourned together the great loss
              we became one family.
As we cried tears of grief and loss,
              we became one soul.
As we retell with pride
              of the sacrifice of the heroes
                            we become one people.

We are
              One color
                            One class
                            One generation
              One gender
                            One faith
                            One language
              One body
                            One family
                            One soul
One people.

| MORE FROM THE FALL/WINTER 2001 BULLETIN |