NOT JUST
poems and essays on September 11, 2001
Freedom's Cost
Deborah Whipp
[dwhipp@earthlink.net]
When engines roared and hatred flew
and innocence was lost
In twisted steel and broken lives --
there lay Freedom's cost
When heroes crawled amongst the ruins
in desperate search of life
Their burning eyes bore witness to
Freedom's awful price
When travelers stood to wrest the course
of hatred from its goal
They knew full well they gave their lives
in paying Freedom's toll
When soldiers proud donned uniforms
for battles all too near
Was known that all would not return
for Freedom's dues are dear
When from the sorrow a nation rose
in determined unity
With heads held high, prepared to fight
for Freedom is not free
originally posted as part of the Not Just virtual chapbook, on September 11, 2002
Poem © 2001 Deborah Whipp, all rights reserved
appears here by permission
