I. Then
April 19th,1995
9:03 a.m.
Look inward.
Remember.
Move forward.
Together.
We can.
We will.
We have to.
We are forever changed.
Recover.
Rebuild.
Reflect.
We will never be the same again.
II. Now
168 chairs
Forever empty
Line the field
Made of glass and stone
Fragile and unbreakable
Body and spirit
Warmed by a sympathetic sun
Built to scale
Holes where our hearts would be
If they'd survived
The tiniest chairs
Cast the hardest shadows
A solitary elm
Withstood the storm he made
Against all odds
Rooted in a faith
Stronger than fear
Green turns to gold
And still it stands
Confident the sun will shine again
The Survivor Tree
The only one of its kind
But not alone
Family to those
Whose names line the wall
It stands with them
For them
A cathedral to remind them
God still cares
The umbrella of its branches
Offering shelter
A safe haven for their memories
A helping hand
When it was time
To start to heal
Little lambs laugh
Wash away the midweek weariness
Of sedentary servanthood
Lift our spirits
For another day
I stand
And take it in
Pulled in
To the mirror water
In the center of it all
A portal
Painting me into this masterpiece
Of misplaced aggression
Overcome
By unity
By love
Acceptance
Even forgiveness
That I may never fully
Understand
A building shattered
With our concept
Of safety
And security
Only to rise again
From the ashes
Spreading its wings
An eagle soaring
For a city
For a nation
To honor those who survived
And those we carry with us
Still
With a strength
That can
And will
Hope
Believe
And Endure
All
*In loving memory of those who lost their lives in the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building on Wednesday, April 19, 1995, and in humble tribute to those who survived.
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