Bits of floating Memory

Nothing appears to last for ever
Only love outlives pain, headache,
colossal loss, and human tragedy!
My eyes have seen glorious sunrises and sunsets
From the sandy beaches of California to the wind-swept
rocks of Grand Canyon, cacti and sand piles of Mojave desert,
to the snow-capped Nevada mountain range.
I get goose bumps from witnessing my wife's tender touch and
expression of love toward our children
Then, all their scratch, itch, booboos are healed. Their fears are gone!

My eyes have witnessed the innocence of children's play on the playground
From diverse backgrounds, they seem to work as a unit to solve problems
My eyes have seen the splendor of a rainbow over Yosemite waterfall and
experienced the sudden apparition of a bear and her cub near El Capitan
My eyes have also witnessed the deep blue aquamarine water
of McClure lake quietly resting against the feet of tall Greely Hill mountains
They have seen the beautiful geometric shapes
of the large farmland of California, stretch of beautiful shorelines and homes
On September 11, 2001, they saw a sudden flight of paper trail
"Bits of paper...drifted from the sky and fell to earth miles away in Brooklyn,"
reported The New York Times and other local papers.

Important documents got released from their drawers
Memos, contracts, resumes, faxes, phone messages, bills, reports
and $million deals rained all over the city
The permanence of positive thoughts and attitude gets into the public domain
The heavens started to cry. A sudden river of tears and cries for help started
running from the sudden inferno and crumbling walls of the twin towers
New York was in shock! So were the rest of the country and the world!
Under the crushing weight of human and physical materials, ashes and soots,
New York became dark. Blackout. Mayhem. Total chaos. Terror in our midst.
A Jewish American was carrying a Muslim colleague to safety; a well-dressed athletic
African-American employee was running away with her manager, hand in hand
Covered with hot debris and mist-like soots, the survivors and rescuers
cared less about their phenotypes, origins, ethnic backgrounds, religion and gender
Private notes and memos continued to fall from the heavens.

Nearby residents and passersby started to take notice of the falling stars
"While you were gone, your wife called."
"While you were away, your mother called. Please call her back."
"...We would like to congratulate you on your promotion to...."
"Bonus Calculation meeting. Raise. Gifts for kids, parents and wife"
"Mr...., your wife said she can't pick up the kids this afternoon..."
"Meet me on the 75, 80th floor to go over our firm's policies..."
"Orientation. New Employees' training..."
Last handshake. Last word. Last breath. Last goodbye. Last paycheck.
"I love you," she said to her husband before she made the next move.
The phone call suddenly stopped
Then, my eyes saw the chaos caused by hatred. Brothers against brothers!
However, complete strangers' love and solidarity became evident
"Honey, make arrangements with the babysitter tonight. We'll have dinner
then we'll hop to our favorite hangout."
By then, it was already a message from the dead.
In a few minutes, the living souls were snuffed out
Upon us they are watching from above
My eyes become tired of such gruesome human tragedies.


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Mr. Charles is the author of "The Long Lost Garden of Eden" and California Blossoms and Harvest Delights" available at http://bookstore.shopnowshop.com