LADY LIBERTY
written on 9-11-2001
By Lisa Barreto

I heard Her cries
And wept in grief
Feeling helpless
And in shock
Watching the clock
While the day painfully continued.

I heard Her screams
In fear of losing Her life.
All I could do was watch and pray,
And feel numb and achy in my stomach and ribs-
As if someone had punched me really hard.

I saw Her blood-
Her children dying
In the air and on the ground,
Veins of life
Cut by evil swill.

I saw Her courage-
Her rescue workers, Her families,
Her President; and then Her Congress,
All huddled together
On the steps of Her capital-
Singing "God Bless America."

I felt Her devastation,
Her smoke and soot and papers flying,
Her difficulties breathing,
Her love for those
Who left Her world for a better place.

I felt Her strength
And Her spirit
Like an eagle
Soaring into a storm-
Unafraid of Her tempests.

I heard Her, saw Her, and felt
Her heart, Her spirit, and Her unity.
With Her icon
Still holding Her torch high
Up to the sky
Continuing to light the world.