~LONG COTTON DRESSES~

Ten little girls

wearing long cotton dresses

ten brave little girls

with blood in their tresses

ten little girls

all of them, "plain";

all of them innocent

five of them slain.

All of us wonder

how this could be ~

How could a father

go on such a spree?

How could a daddy

do something so awful

something so evil

so completely unlawful?

I have no answers

I don't comprehend

how this could happen,

how this would end.

He asked them to pray

so that's what they did....

They knew they would die

and none of them hid.

They were all bound together;

to each other were tied,

little sisters and friends

prayed together, then died.

Ten brave little angels

ten "plain" Amish girls

In plain Amish dresses

no ribbons or curls...

No photos were taken,

no press at the graves

that's not the way

a good Amish behaves.

They spoke to his widow

they said they forgave

his actions that led to

each small, simple grave.

Their daughters are dead

but their faith is alive,

and they've torn down

the school

where he murdered the five.

I'm humbled to think

how they live their Belief

in the midst of their sorrow

in the midst of their grief

Forgiveness - a word

that they managed to know

like our dear, humble Master

so long, long ago......

So, pray for each girl ~

all in white she is dressed

God has welcomed each one.

Each one is blessed.

© Christina 10-19-06

For the children murdered and wounded

in the Amish Schoolhouse slayings, Paradise, PA.

Awarded 10/20/20006