HUMAN LINKS RENKU
At the invitation of Dr. H. Tamura, Tokyo, Japan, and Kathleen Adams, President of the National Association of Poetry Therapy, the Poetry Society of Texas participated in a Human Links Renku. The 36 stanzas written by PST members and friends join those of thousands, to comfort and heal people traumatized by the tragedy of September 11, 2001.

calm autumn morning explodes in horror, yet bares power of courageous souls	Marilyn Stacy-Dallas, TX
dark clouds collect like mold on a tangerine rind	LaVonne Schonematt--Seattle, WA
blossoms of mold burst putrid plumes billow and roil dispel spores of death	Roberta Bowman-Fort Worth, TX
firefighters run hard, climb stairs to aid survivors	J. Paul Holcomb-Double Oak, TX
nations look through windows astonished to see earth-treasures falling from morning sky	Faye Leeper-Irving, TX
firefighters run but can not reach smoke filled eyes screaming for Jesus	Michael Guinn-Arlington, TX
on streets of New York people in business suits run without their shoes	Irene Carmichael-Dallas, TX
some fall through their screams screams that hang on sobbing winds	Wendy Dimmette-Dallas, TX
winds bear messages explicit revelations of doom and valor	Bob Duchouquette-Dallas, TX
bodies falling through the sky awaken me to being alive	Jim Dimmette-Dallas, TX
will I ever experience feelings of true safety again? will I always fear onslaughts of terror?	Pat Randolph-Dallas TX
panic grows as fear numbs reason the rush to nowhere has begun	Mary Dhaene-Richardson, TX
battered patriots hoist flags partisans point blame everyone glances behind	Susie Alexander-Garland, TX
nations colors run with black rage	Barrie Neller-Dallas, TX
anger breeds revenge more innocent people pay the high price of hate	Linda Banks-Mesquite, TX
flag and cross unite power of peoples' voices freedom from terror	Leona Welch-Dennison, TX
in that tragic moment our hearts are expanded to care for people we do not know	Grant Perry-The Woodlands, TX
as in the Civil War we shout again the Battle Cry of freedom	Joy Perry-The Woodlands, TX
armed as new allies strengthened by their touch we listen plan hope	Naomi Stroud Simmons-Fort Worth, TX
through these morning hours we are humbled by the sight	Jessica Ray-Fort Worth, TX
one sad, dark year has passed but will not be forgotten as we rebuild in faith	Mary Cimarolli-Angel Fire, NM
tragedy squeezes strength and hope bonds tight our nation	Jeannette Strother-Mansfield, TX
disbelief, anger fear, sorrow pride for our heroes	Michael Stacy-Frisco, TX
standing together we will get through this	Allison Stacy-Frisco, TX
saved by dying heroes men and women – gray ghosts ran from falling ashes	Dean Stacy-Dallas, TX
a day or two later the nation proudly displays American flags	Cynthia Hamil-San Diego, CA
light from fifty stars illuminates our darkness we add fervent prayers	Sandy Payne-Studio City, CA
one speck of light at a time our prayers merge one world glows	Brenda Roberts-Fort Worth, TX
mother embraces her children back to her hearing the prayers	Cliff Roberts-Fort Worth, TX
phone rings, daughter & son safe tears of joy and grief in Texas	Ruth Savage-Arlington, TX
confidence and faith in God and country will prevail over barbarism and hate	Iris Maahs-San Antonio, TX
hate that comes only from loss while love and hope overpowers all	Amber Stacy-Jacksonville, FL
incandescent bloom of hate scatters seeds of intolerance; can infestation be stopped?	John Avault-Grafton, VT
prayer is made for healing heart and souls – let's start now	Annie Avault-Arlington, TX
now! now! we must keep alive the American dream so woefully battered	Frances Etzbach-Dallas, TX
a dream we remember now brighter, stronger, forever.	Susan Stacy-Dallas, TX

(Though we do receive inquiries from time to time, please note that we typically do not publish poetry on this web site unless it is a special project like this Renku.)