A fire ripped 
open the sky,
scorching 
the hearts
of the world.
Stunned 
in silence 
we watched,
not believing,
unable to 
grasp
what lay 
in the ruins.
Something great 
was lost,
indefinable,
ineffable,
far beyond 
the destruction
and death,
...an ideal.
A page turned,
a chapter ended,
the new one
too painful
for the story;
marching 
forward we took
backwards steps,
trying to force 
redemption
while sifting for 
closure
in dust that 
could never settle.
There was 
nothing
that could begin
to replace
what was taken
right before 
our eyes,
and in the 
moment
we blinked,
the last 
remains of our
innocence
was stolen away.