9-12-01
The Day After
The country was still in shock
From what had happened yesterday
That’s all we could talk about
Yet didn’t know what to say.
Fear and anger filled the air
As we tried to sort it out
Death and destruction—
Was that what it was all about?
The children came to art class
As they did every Wednesday.
Their ages—only 4 and 5
So for them this was play.
The teacher walked around
Watching what they did.
She smiled at each drawing
Until she came to one kid.
On this little girl’s paper
Was a rectangle, tall and dark
With orange all around the top.
A drawing very stark.
“Tell me about your picture”
Is what the teacher said.
“That’s the building that fell down
And left lots of people dead.”
“I see the flames” the teacher said.
But there at the bottom of the tower
What is the yellow spot I see?”
“Can’t you tell? That’s a flower.”
The teacher walked away
Wiping a misty eye
With thoughts of those still living
When others had to die.
Every lock of sorrow has a key of promise to fit it. Rev. C. H. Spurgeon