Requiem

REQUIEM

New York City
September 11, 2001


The precious skyline of glass and steel remains
Of all that's lost
And flowing into the sea
At the end of the island where the rivers meet

The candles burn for so many
Doves crowd the branches
Of the blue garden tonight

In every park on every corner a fine curtain of dust
Falls on the altars
Of the open city
Photographs and the sweet heavy fragrance of flowers

The candles burn for so many
Doves crowd the branches
Of the blue garden tonight

So many wings rising from thousands of lives ended
In the collapse of the towers
A common prayer
Scribbled on scraps of paper blows through the streets


The candles burn for so many
Doves crowd the branches
Of the blue garden tonight

Beneath the bridges the rivers flow as sorrow into the sea
Of all that's passing
Innocence and ashes
The precious skyline of glass and steel remains

The candles burn for so many
Doves crowd the branches
Of the blue garden tonight


Janet Hamill