March 27, 1994 Alabama Tornado Poem by Margaret Foley Byassee

I COULD NOT HELP BUT WONDER

AS THE NEWS MEDIA WAS HEARD TO TELL

NINETEEN CHURCH GOERS DIE AS WALLS AND STEEPLE FELL

ALABAMIANS SHOOK TO THE VERY CORE

THESE SEEMINGLY HORRIBLE DEATHS TO EXPLORE!

EVEN THEIR FAITH COULD BE SHAKEN A BIT IT SEEMED TO ME

TILL SUDDENLY THIS THOUGHT OCCURRED TO MAKE ME SEE!

PHYSICAL DEATH BEING TO ALL A SURITY

HOW WOULD I CHOOSE TO DEPART FROM THIS EARTH?

AN ACCIDENT ON A LONELY ROAD?

A LONG STRUGGLE IN A HOSPITAL BED?

A CRASH FROM A PLANE HIGH ABOVE?

OR SITTING IN CHURCH WITH THOSE I LOVE

THE ANSWER THEN WAS VERY CLEAR

THESE DEPARTED ONES WERE TRULY BLEST !

LEAVING TOGETHER - NOTHING TO FEAR

JOINED IN SPIRIT - WITH OUR GOD OF LOVE

JOINED TOGETHER - FOR TOTAL REBIRTH

I ASK YOU, DEAR FRIENDS?

HOW WOULD YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO LEAVE THIS EARTH?