May The Angel of Peace Watch Over Us
And Keep Us In This Time Of Uncertainty.
God Bless America!

---

This month's cover is a special tribute to those that suffered great loss from the tragic events of Tuesday, September 11th. It is called The Angel of Peace and is created by J. Ann Masiker of Watercolor Angels.

She put out a call for poems that would speak about the tragedy of that horrific day and received over 100 entries. In her generosity, J. Ann offered the winning entry publication of the poem on her Web site, as well as a print of The Angel of Peace. Below is the winning entry, written by R. J. Fernalld.

I would like to recognize and commend the countless individuals that have risen to the call of support through their prayers, financial contributions, blood, sweat and tears, and the many other ways in which people have reached out to lift their spirits in expression of unity.

 

GROUND ZERO

Shattered concrete, shattered lives, shattered dreams,
The peace of the world collapsed with the towers.
Tears of men, wails of widows, the new orphan's fear...
Shattered trust and new nightmares haunt the nation.

Below ground zero, beneath twisted iron and broken bodies,
Lies something only angels can see. It weeps, bathed in blood,
Stabbed four times with evil and buried alive. It no longer
Breathes easily. Its mouth lays agape, eyes full of tears.

Among the people of the living and the people of the dead
Through the city walks an unseen spirit. She searches for the
Ground zero point. The angel waits, watches, comforts and
strengthens each loving hand and heart that has come to help.

She bottles each tear, holds each heavy heart close, she
Watches and waits, comforting the best of mankind as they
Recover each broken body and as each family grieves.
The candles burning in remembrance and love warm her.

Then, she disappears into the rubble. Though unseen, the
Hearts and hands feel her essence. She bends low at
the sight before her. There, at the center of ground zero
Beneath the death of thousands, the Dove of Peace lay gasping.

The angel approaches the wounded dove and sees the deep wounds.
Beneath the dove, she sees a mountain of prayers and the hopes
and dreams of the dead thousands. "Hush," she whispers to the
Weeping dove. She gently lifts its broken body, and the prayers

Begin to rise. Up through the mangled remains of the building
and through the hearts of the volunteers, the prayers and dreams
move upward toward Heaven's Ear. The angel draws out the wounded
Dove of Peace to the mound of rubble still atop ground zero.

It is there, among the loving hearts, hands, and the unspoken
Prayers of volunteers and frightened citizens that the Dove
Takes heart. Their courage heals. "Come," says the angel.
"Evil cannot kill peace, and we will again come home to them."

 

Written by R J Fernalld
Copyright R J Fernalld 2001
srfern@bcn.net