[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 17782]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                        THE DAY OF NINE-ONE-ONE

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, Ira Somers was my neighbor and friend when I 
had my house in McLean, VA. I found Ira to be not only a mental giant 
but also a spiritual great as well. I ask unanimous consent to have 
printed in the Record a poem written by Ira Somers that loudly outlines 
Americans' thoughts on the events of September 11, 2001.
  There being no objection, the poem was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                        The Day of Nine-One-One

     This began as a quiet day
     Lives were normal in every way.
     The sun arose with fullest light
     And moved the shadows of the night.
     But this was not to last for long,
     Two big giants tall and strong
     Which seemed to stand for what is good
     Were struck by evil where they stood.

     `Twas on the day of nine-one-one
     That they were lost to everyone.
     There they were, and now they're not,
     And where they stood's a gruesome spot.
     How could these giants of our day
     Be brought to naught in such a way,
     To leave this mass of jumbled parts
     Which tear with grief at all our hearts?

     We sensed the feelings of despair
     In those who walked most every where
     To find the ones that they had lost
     And bring them back at any cost.
     We were moved by the kindly deed
     Of those who toiled for other's needs,
     And the many hours they have spent
     Clearing rubble from this event.

     A vicious crash at the Pentagon
     Tore at the souls of every one,
     And reports of heroes in the air
     Touched hearts of people everywhere.
     We all can learn from such great loss
     To look at need before the cost
     When giving help to anyone,
     And not say quit `till peace has won.--Ira Somers.

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