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Virginia's Pain

See the children of the dawn

They lay like rows of tulips

Scorched by raging April frost

Their muted beauty still flows

 

Etched in hearts by time’s eternal hand

Their fragrances lightly scent the air

Crimson flows among the dews

Encased in frozen wintry daze

 

 

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

 

Dark breaks the cruel dawn

Hope flees before gathering storm

Lion crouching at the door

Death now stalking ingloriously

 

The morning dews now fractured

By hideous molten hate

And discharge vile of powder black

Lead propelled by malicious hand

 

A quieted field of humanity

Stunned by violent intent

Lives torn by wonton scorn

And raging blindness of the man

 

Gone now the quiet solitude

Of the grander commons

That breaks the midnight peace

Spirits crying, torn by malice

 

Children of the Old Dominion

Fly like fodder upon the storm

Tossed violently into the abyss

While screams erupt from fated lips

 

The white hazes of embattled morn

Lie heavy upon Draper's Meadow

While parting spirits drift invisibly

Over sorrow’s stifled glen

Erupting slowly the mournful wails

For brethren cut down by malice

Upon the fields of valor now undone

Breath snatched away by evil’s clone

 

Down, down sinking into the silt of fate

Lodging within the sands of time

Like the mighty Merrimack

Inglorious in its demise

 

The cold tomb swallows greedily,

Quickly swallowing the valor of heroes pride

Hiding their glory within a muddy cloud

Where have the children gone?

 

Vapors of time now fading

Carrying their memories away

Hearts cleave amid whispers low

Fragile bidding our final farewells

 

Heroes to a watching wondering world

Speak silently to saddened hearts

Stand apart in eternal rest

Passing their memories along the path

 

See the children of the dawn

They lay like rows of tulips

Scorched by raging April frost

Their muted beauty still flows

 

Etched in hearts by time’s eternal hand

Their fragrances lightly scent the air

Crimson flows among the dews

Encased in frozen wintry daze

 

We say goodbye to heaven’s best

Reminders to love and tenderness

Their courage a light to our dismays

Giving hope to those pass this way again

 

To all who pause upon this path

Consider now the life they gave

Their message remains steadfast

Prevail against evil’s domain!!

 

 

 

In memory of all those who died

On the campus of Virginia Tech

04/16/2007

 

Original Poem copyright 2007

by Joe Hall

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Uploaded on April 9, 2008
Taken on February 17, 2008