1-15-2021

I was in Oklahoma City last October on a trip to visit an elderly relative in Iowa. I made it a point to visit the OKC Memorial that was created after the terrible senseless bombing of the Murrah Federal Building that took so many innocent lives. It was April 19, 1995 that the catastrophe took place. It killed 168 people that included 19 children and babies.

A memorial was created in the exact place that the building stood before its destruction. A reflecting pool was in the center and at each end a wall was constructed to similate the building's dimension. Of course, the ruble had been removed, but it was
still very sobering. There was a chair-like marker that represented every single victim spaced several feet apart that light up at night. I was not able to see it lit. I was there in the daytime. Their names were also engraved on a part of the actual building that was left for effect. Again it was very, very sad.

It is amazing that someone could be that evil. So tragic! I was moved to write a poem. It is titled
INNOCENCE LOST.

A beautiful spring morning
On a fateful April day
Many lives will be taken
As a time clock ticks away

A multi-story building
In the middle of the town
Exploded into history
As it disintegrated to the ground

Frantic scores of people
With panic on their face
Staring at a building
Where ruble fills its space

So many innocent people
Just going about their day
Will sadly end their time on earth
In a really terrible way

A truly misguided person
A skewed belief of strife
Released his sick and evil plan
With no regard for life

God bless the little babies
That never had a chance
To play with other children
To blossom or to dance

The moms, the sons, the daughters
Their shattered future dreams
And daddies won't be coming home
Its hopeless so it seems

We pray that families will start to heal
That time is on their side
They won't forget the ones they loved
And will remember them with pride!

I hope you liked it. Until next time, take care! Marc