A Professional Writer

"Secrets in the Sand"
(On the Back)

"The Day The Earth Stood Still"

I had my oatmeal
and, of course, my toast,
While watching GMA and Charlie Gibson,
aired late on the West Coast

I drove my silver Mustang
away from the sun,
I had to go to work,
so that took away the fun.

The phones were ringing
complaints were in my head,
I'd give a week's pay,
just to go back to bed.

Before I knew it,
my break had wandered in,
I got my coffee and my donut,
and savored my dieter's sin.

And sometime that day
all hell broke loose,
And home was no longer home,
and Faye was no longer Faye.

If someone were to ask me
what time this earthquake roared,
It would be like asking
when the last rain no longer poured.

First, I saw the planes,
then, I saw the fire
But my mind flashed back
to our 200th Birthday,
And the man on high wire.
All the ships in the harbor
that came to watch us roar,
Now were watching us buckle . . .
But getting ready to Soar.

If I live to be a hundred,
as my Mom would always say,
I may never forgive them,
and somehow make them pay.
But it goes without saying . . .
I won't soon forget this day.

Faye Hollins-Moore
Copyright, 2004

"The Twin Towers" on the Playbill holds considerable significance. I was twenty five years old that year. I remember the Bicentennial Celebrations lasted all year long. It included daily "Bicentennial Moments" on television recalling important events of 1776. And all were narrated and presented by celebrities of the time: including former Presidents, famous comedians and screen and television actors. It was, without a doubt, a 365-day salute to our unique and spectacular country. There was also a contest that year: it was a challenge given by the President to schoolchildren nationwide. The Twin Towers had just been completed and the children were asked to draw a picture of them. This was the winning drawing. I know it was a 5th grader living somewhere in the Midwest. And the prize was a scholarship for the college of their choice. The child who drew the towers saw them as two siblings leaning toward each other for protection. Twenty five years later the towers did just that! Or at least they tried. By the way, I want to mention I was also in the Towers for the Bicentennial Celebrations in July, 1976. I stood in the North Tower watching the tightrope walker that France sent over (just like they did with Lady Liberty). I saw the ships from all over the world waving their native flags and milling around the Statue of Liberty. I wrote this into our play, "Secrets in the Sand". Two of my characters reminisce about this day on my behalf . . . this once in a lifetime event.