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They Came Running

They came running
Without pause
Without thought 
Without hesitation
Not away
But towards the dangers
That lay ahead

They came running
Not because 
It was their job
Not because 
They were brave
But because 
Their brothers
Their sisters
Their friends
And most of all
Those they never knew
Needed them

They came running
Because someone disagreed
With the way 
We chose to live and believe
And worship, and pray
With the way 
We did something 
They did not do
They came running
 
They came running
From down the street
Across the city
Across the boroughs
Across the rivers
From miles and miles away
And they stayed until
Nothing remained 

And when
It was all over
And many 
Who had come running
Had died
Along with those 
Who could not be saved
The brave sat and cried
Not because 
It was their job
Or because 
They were brave
But because 
Many of their
Brothers, sisters, friends
And those they never knew
People with and without faces
Who had called out to them
Were lost
In the smoke 
Of what had fallen

But I remember

I will not forget
That when 
They were called upon
When 
They were needed
When 
The world 
Seemed to be falling
And when others 
Like me
Looked on
Not knowing what to do
They came running

Copyright © | Year Posted 2011




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Date: 9/11/2011 1:59:00 PM
This is a wonderful tribute to the first responders of 9/11. Thank you! Kim
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Book: Reflection on the Important Things