We're told to look around us
To take stock in what we see
Be it the flight of a butterfly
Or the greenness of a tree

We're told to help out others
To lend that helping hand
Put self aside, whenever one can
Reach out to a needy man

Well, that happened just the other day
With nine miners beneath the earth
Who'd  never dreamed that they'd be here
Without either food nor berth

Gallons of water came flooding forth
Seeking to drown these nine
Who shouted warnings to nine miners more
Who were working in this deadly mine

Those nine were saved that fateful day
These nine  headed, for a higher place
Wet with liquid and covered with coal
And thoughts none could hope to erase

They thought of death, and wrote last words
In case they'd not see home
They cried together for what they might lose
On an earth, they might never more roam.

Calls were made from all corners of earth.
Knees bent.  Prayers  prepared to fly
The Governor came to try to help
The President also stood by

He stood by to stand for Americans
And all they purposed to be
He stood by to show  how strong we are
In this the land of the free

And so seventy-seven hours went by
As workers and families stood near
As the miners hugged one another
As they tried not to shed  a tear

I think that if the truth be known
There were eighteen miners there
Behind each one his double
Wearing wings and shiny hair

A cheer went up from across the states
When a cylinder surfaced  at last
And a miner came safe from its hold
And the time for fear was past

In less then two hours, all nine came forth
wet, hungry and covered with coal
But all wore a smile of gratitude
That death had not taken its toll

So to Americans, everywhere
I say "God bless you all"
To eighteen (plus nine) that could have died
I'm glad you stood 'straight and tall'

I'm glad I'm a part of the USA
Where I can pray if I want to
If others don't, it's their right
Here you do what you need to do.

It doesn't matter who you are
Red, yellow, brown or white
If you be short, fat, tall or thin
We're the same, both day and night

We pull together if times get tough
No matter how we complain
We love one another in ways that count
In sunshine and in rain.

 

©7-29-02 Vickey Stamps
Used with permission