Rally Round

Thomas E. Franklin was only doing his job
snapping pictures of the ruins that smoldered
and hissed, while in his ears wailed the moans
of a stunned, bewildered nation in shock. He captured
a moment from America’s darkest hour
that will never be forgotten.
Those three firemen, they are permanently etched into history,
faces intent on the task at hand: forever fly
Old Glory. Dusty, sweaty, and exhausted
from the torture of their duties, for they rescued
the helpless and watched in horror
as the world collapsed on comrades.
In triangle formation they stand, eyes squinting
as the sun shines down on what started out
as a perfect day. There she is at the peak,
her red, white, and blue colors blooming
vigorously against the grey wasteland
of America’s tragedy.
September 11, 2001
Never forget.
Never surrender.
We will remember.