[Van]

TWO THOUSAND ONE, NINE ELEVEN

> > > > Two thousand one, nine eleven
> > > > Five thousand plus arrive in heaven
> > > > As they pass through the gate,
> > > > Thousands more appear in wait
> > > > A bearded man with stovepipe hat
> > > > Steps forward saying, "Lets sit, lets chat"

> > > > They settle down in seats of clouds
> > > > A man named Martin shouts out proud
> > > > "I have a dream!" and once he did
> > > > The Newcomer said, "Your dream still lives."

> > > > Groups of soldiers in blue and gray
> > > > Others in khaki, and green then say
> > > > "We're from Bull Run, Yorktown, the Maine"
> > > > The Newcomer said, "You died not in vain."

> > > > From a man on sticks one could hear
> > > > "The only thing we have to fear.
> > > > The Newcomer said, "We know the rest,
> > > > trust us sir, we've passed that test."

> > > > "Courage doesn't hide in caves
> > > > You can't bury freedom, in a grave,"
> > > > The Newcomers had heard this voice before
> > > > A distinct Yankees twang from Hyannisport shores

> > > > A silence fell within the mist
> > > > Somehow the Newcomer knew that this
> > > > Meant time had come for her to say
> > > > What was in the hearts of the five thousand plus
> > that day

> > > > "Back on Earth, we wrote reports,
> > > > Watched our children play in sports
> > > > Worked our gardens, sang our songs
> > > > Went to church and clipped coupons
> > > > We smiled, we laughed, we cried, we fought
> > > > Unlike you, great we're not"

> > > > The tall man in the stovepipe hat
> > > > Stood and said, "don't talk like that!
> > > > Look at your country, look and see
> > > > You died for freedom, just like me"

> > > > Then, before them all appeared a scene
> > > > Of rubbled streets and twisted beams
> > > > Death, destruction, smoke and dust
> > > > And people working just 'cause they must

> > > > Hauling ash, lifting stones,
> > > > Knee deep in hell, but not alone
> > > > "Look! Blackman, Whiteman, Brownman, Yellowman
> > > > Side by side helping their fellow man!"

> > > > So said Martin, as he watched the scene
> > > > "Even from nightmares, can be born a dream."

> > > > Down below three firemen raised
> > > > The colors high into ashen haze
> > > > The soldiers above had seen it before
> > > > On Iwo Jima back in '44

> > > > The man on sticks studied everything closely
> > > > Then shared his perceptions on what he saw mostly
> > > > "I see pain, I see tears,
> > > > I see sorrow - but I don't see fear."

> > > > "You left behind husbands and wives
> > > > Daughters and sons and so many lives
> > > > are suffering now because of this wrong
> > > > But look very closely. You're not really gone.

> > > > All of those people, even those who've never met you
> > > > All of their lives, they'll never forget you
> > > > Don't you see what has happened?
> > > > Don't you see what you've done?
> > > > You've brought them together, together as one.

> > > > With that the man in the stovepipe hat said
> > > > "Take my hand," and from there he led
> > > > five thousand plus heroes, Newcomers to heaven
> > > > On this day, two thousand one, nine eleven

> > > >

GOD BLESS AMERICA !!