They freed his hands first
Then one leg and yet another
Each man reached for the child
When it was finally free
Brushing his little face with their fingers
And wiping the dust away
The man who first heard him whimper
Had the honor of carrying him to his mother
Whose cries of mourning turned to joy
It was a miracle and each man held on
To that as they returned to the task
of digging for more survivors
Their sweat mingled with the dirt
From their effort as they contemplated
The miracle and wondered.
shesingsagain 