Thoughts go out to victims and their families

I am a freshman at Penn State University on the University Park campus. I am, however, originally from Red Bank. We were all deeply affected by the tragedy of last week, and a little piece of our own worlds collapsed with the colossal structures in New York City and Washington, D.C.

From the get go I wanted to write something that might either epitomize the situation, comfort those who are in worry or anguish, or continue to warm the hearts of the nation that is now coming together in this time of most dreadful crisis.

I would really appreciate it if you could publish this poem on a page in your papers in the next few days, making just a little space for words to describe a situation for which words are lacking. Thank you very, very much.

The Promised Land

The sky opened up in a burst of potent flame.

Innocent victims took hold of God’s outstretched hand.

Our tears cannot quench such a massive suffering.

We will see you, friends, in the promised land.

Widespread fear cloaked an entire people.

No possible explanation for why this would be done.

It may take time to mend our tattered hearts,

Yet we have strong faith that good will overcome.

Bloodshed, horror and great clouds demonstrate pure evil.

Masses run for cover against terror tested and planned.

Soot envelops us; we are blind in this darkness.

But we will see you, friends, in the promised land.

Mothers and fathers cry out for the ones they love.

Our spirit fades in the moment, our bodies are numb.

Vengeance springs to mind to rectify this horror.

But we trust, without fail, that good will overcome.

Now the reconstruction begins for our world and minds.

Sifting through the shrapnel, shattered glass, fine as sand.

We find the remnants of you, those we hold so dear.

Our only hope is that we will see you in the promised land.

The night creeps upon us after a long and trying day.

Our sleep is wracked with nightmares of what man has become.

Awaking, what we hoped was a dream is a stark reality.

We strive forward, confident that good will overcome.

Words have no meaning, no value in the face of tragedy.

Yet all unite as one, and in the face of catastrophe we stand.

Together, we shall prove that only good may overcome.

And someday, brothers and sisters, we shall meet in the promised land.

Bethany S. Thornton