Child Of 9-11 Poem by Michael Burch

Child of 9-11
by Michael R. Burch

Child of 9-11, beloved,
I bring this lily, lay it down
here at your feet, and eiderdown,
and all soft things, for your gentle spirit.
I bring this psalm — I hope you hear it.

Much love I bring — I lay it down
here by your form, which is not you,
but what you left this shell-shocked world
to help us learn what we must do
to save another child like you.

Child of 9-11, I know
you are not here, but watch, afar
from distant stars, where angels rue
the brutal things some mortals do.
I also watch; I also rue.

And so I make this pledge and vow:
though I may weep, I will not rest
nor will my pen fail heaven's test
till guns and wars and hate are banned
from every shore, from every land.

Child of 9-11, I grieve
your tender life, cut short... bereaved,
what can I do, but pledge my life
to saving lives like yours? Belief
in your sweet worth has led me here...

I give my all: my pen, this tear,
this lily and this eiderdown,
and all soft things my heart can bear;
I bear them to your final bier,
and leave them with my promise, here.

Note: This is a poem for Christina-Taylor Green, who was born
on September 11,2001 and died at the age of nine, shot to death by a serial killer.

Keywords/Tags: school, shooting, shootings, child, children, murder, student, death, funeral, grave, guns, violence, USA, America, NRA, assault weapons, massacre, massacres, serial killers, prayer, survivor, angel, angels, elegy, eulogy, epitaph, epigram, lament, lamentation,