God Bless America

      Hold Closely Today

                        Hold closely today
                             the lost,
                             the touched,
                            the innocents,
                           the lookers on,

                         Hold closely today
                              the young,
                               the old,
                        the fortunate and not,

                         Hold closely today
                        the moments shared
                          and those alone,
                         the one's you love,
                         the one's you've lost

                          Hold closely today
                   the one's that you call friends,
                   the friends you've yet to meet,
                    the friends you used to have,
                    the friends you'll never meet.

                        Most of all my friends,
                        Hold closely...today.

                                     author unknown

Tattered, Not Torn

It stood a vigil,
At Its post.
It was there everyday.
It was there on this day.
It thought it was just another day.
It thought it was forgotten.
People pass and do not look at it.
Still it stands its watch.

Evil came to knock it from its post.
In a matter of minutes,
It was dashed and beaten.
This evil tried to burn it.
It stood the test,
And its colors ran true.
Put there by its founders,
With blood, sweat, and tears.
It has been tattered,
It has been shot at.
Evil has tried to tarnish it,
Over the years.

It has been there,
Ready to stand the test.
Time and again it has done its best.
It has been tattered but never torn.

This last test,
Came to the very heart of its post.
Through the smoke and fire,
It was there standing watch.
Giving guidance and hope.
It saw the devastation and the horror,
Heard the cries and anguish.
But like a shepherd
it was there to give comfort.
Saying " See, I am tattered not torn"
"So come citizens rally round me,"
"We will get through,"
"Tattered, Not Torn."

Christopher H. Wilson