A thousand hands of craftsmen past
Constructed stalwart stone ballast
Twin towers mighty, built to last
Rising up to Heaven’s Gate
Reminders of our mortal state
A hope for our eternal fate
Standing in the city’s smog
Sinews between our souls and God
Imposing shadows long and broad
But when that temple grand, consumed
By fire such as we saw, assumed
That all was lost, destroyed, and doomed
Her Holy Roof for years protecting
Priest and pilgrim recollecting
In snow and rain without relenting
Now engulfed in flames ascending
A nation’s soul and worth depending
Upon this sign of faith unending
Dark billows rising in the sky
Like incense to the Throne on High
Or else a lover’s mournful cry
A coup de foudre on that spring night
Is that steeple set alight
A sign of our world’s wayward plight?
Temple holy! O pilgrim’s joy!
That jewel which fire could not destroy
Some divine grace thou didst employ
Thou shall rise again some future morn
Like the temple of Our Savior’s form
An ancient relic to be reborn.
Constructed stalwart stone ballast
Twin towers mighty, built to last
Rising up to Heaven’s Gate
Reminders of our mortal state
A hope for our eternal fate
Standing in the city’s smog
Sinews between our souls and God
Imposing shadows long and broad
But when that temple grand, consumed
By fire such as we saw, assumed
That all was lost, destroyed, and doomed
Her Holy Roof for years protecting
Priest and pilgrim recollecting
In snow and rain without relenting
Now engulfed in flames ascending
A nation’s soul and worth depending
Upon this sign of faith unending
Dark billows rising in the sky
Like incense to the Throne on High
Or else a lover’s mournful cry
A coup de foudre on that spring night
Is that steeple set alight
A sign of our world’s wayward plight?
Temple holy! O pilgrim’s joy!
That jewel which fire could not destroy
Some divine grace thou didst employ
Thou shall rise again some future morn
Like the temple of Our Savior’s form
An ancient relic to be reborn.