The twins were slain before her eyes
on the morn of 9-1-1,
when a band of cowards struck them down
in a Kamikaze run.

The screams came from a nightmare.
The black smoke choked the sky.
The hopes and dreams they held within
were gone with one last cry.

But mother had been watching,
where she stood on the shore.
As innocence crashed to its knees,
she heard it gasp, “To War...”

She’d always promised safety;
a better way of life.
&#They thought they’d kill democracy
with cardboard cutting knives?”

While heroes sifted rubble
and thousands said good-bye,
she realized terror had not won…
her torch was still held high.

She gazed upon the skyline
where her twins once stood tall.
With pain and rage, she wailed aloud,
&#You didn’t kill us all!”

In time, the dust would settle.
She’d make the killers see:
The spirit of her children
was the reason they were free.

In the city some say never sleeps,
evil chose its path-
to taste the fruit of justice;
a grieving mother’s wrath!
Steven Manchester is the published author of: THE UNEXPECTED STORM (P.S.I. RESEARCH; HELLGATE PRESS, 2000) an autobiographical account of Operation Desert Storm- revealing that some war wounds are invisible, while many are never suffered on the battlefield. Under the pseudonym, Steven Herberts, he is also the published author of: 6-5; A DIFFERENT SHADE OF BLUE (KROSHKA BOOKS, 1996) a non-fiction work on modern-day prison life, as seen through the eyes of an officer. A SEARCH FOR INNER-PEACE (MELLEN POETRY PRESS, 1997) THE NEVER-ENDING QUEST (MELLEN POETRY PRESS, 1998), THE CORRECTIONAL OFFICER: INSIDE PRISONS (NOVA SCIENCE PUBLISHERS, 1998). He has written/co-produced several independent films: A DIFFERENT SHADE OF BLUE (1998), THE UNEXPECTED STORM (2000), ACQUAINTANCES (2001). The father of two sons, Steven works as a Technical Writer for State Street Bank. As a free-lance writer, he has published more than 80 articles both local and abroad. He currently publishes monthly installments of fiction with Titan Magazine, and has also contributed essays, poetry and short fiction to Internet publications such as: Tales Etc., The Murder Hole, Mediajonez, Zine5, Poetry.com and Short Stories Magazine.

He has completed his first full-length novel; THE ROCKIN’ CHAIR, a collection of short stories; JACOB EVANS, his third collection of poetry; IN LAYMAN TERMS, and three full-length screenplays: THREE SHOEBOXES, GOOSEBERRY ISLAND and ROLLING HILLS.

When not spending time with his sons, writing, or promoting his published books/films, Steven speaks publicly to troubled school children through the “Straight Ahead” Program.