August 12, 1998

Rose

you gave us hope

for a brief moment

hope in a small good

to be extracted from this great evil

after the blinding terror of catastrophe

fear and anguish for the sudden dead

tempered with hope for your life

for a brief moment

the world prayed for you

rejoicing at your discovery

hastening to your rescue

one life

amidst such tragedy

suddenly gone

as on the morning of this day

your body, shorn of life,

was found

and all hope died

may your killers ever feel their shame