Soapbox

Up From the Ashes

Written for us all, shortly after September 11th. I’m proud to say it was performed at the one year commemoration by the relief department (temporary housing) that my sister Barb worked tirelessly for.
It was written in a spirit of hope. I just wish it seemed a little more true.

Some days feel like roses, and some days taste like ash:
There are days when young men die alone,
When buildings fall and airplanes crash.
And though it’s hard, we must lift our heads
And see what hate has done.
A monstrous task is before us now, but we must not be overcome:
We WILL overcome!

For we must rise up from the ashes
Of this world spun out of control:
We will not succumb to the darkness,
We will not let it into our souls.

We must be united by difference, for freedom depends on us all.
We are citizens of humanity, and we all hear the human call
And answer the call.
Only justice can slay cruelty; only love can lift our fears.
With a flame a faith from caring hearts
This one thing is very clear…

That we must rise up from the ashes
of this world spun out of control.
We will not succumb to the darkness:
We will not let it into our souls.
Evil will not be our master, and hate must Not be our guide!
We owe it to the ones coming after us,
We owe it to the ones who have died… too many have died!

So I’m drawing a line in the ashes of the concrete,
the steel and the blood,
On the hallowed ground that knows hatred and death,
I’m taking a stand,
I’m taking a stand…for…love!