NINE MIRACLES
 

Nine miracles from God
Nine miners with us still
Brought up  from a watery grave
Because it was God’s will.
 

We’ll live or die together
Was the decision that they made
So no bodies would be lost
If the final price they  paid.
 

They tied themselves together
With some rope that they had found
And tried to keep each other warm
As they hoped they wouldn’t drown.
 

They found cardboard and a pen
And wrote their last good-byes
So just how much, they were loved
Their families would realize.
 

For nearly eighty hours
They were trapped beneath the ground
While frantic workers up above
Listened for some sound.
 

They pounded on a pipe sent down
To provide them with warm air
Hoping that their rescuers
Would know they were still there.
 

While on the ground above
It was quite a sight
With determined people working
To save them --- day and night.

                                                        
                     
With “Old Glory” proudly waving
High above the ground
They all worked together
And vowed they would be found.
 

That they would find them all alive
Seemed too much to hope for
But these rescuers would give their all
  And then give even more.
 

Through concrete, dirt, and rocks, they drilled
And then they were delayed
By a broken drilling bit ---
And they were so afraid.
 

Afraid that this delay ---
Might be the final blow
But they never did give up
Though they heard nothing from below.
 

For eighteen long and tortured hours
The miners didn’t hear
The drilling from above ---
They felt sure the end was near.
 

They found a lunch pail floating
When they opened it, they found ---
A corned beef sandwich and two sodas
Which they quickly passed around.
 

Meanwhile --- up above
The work began once more
They were even more determined
Than they had been before.

There were volunteers of every kind
They worked three shifts a day
The Governor came there often
To support them all the way.
 

With everyone united
They were very strong ---
And everyone was praying
“Let nothing else go wrong”
 

The miners kept on praying
That they would soon be found
And finally it happened ---
They had broken through the ground.
 

Oh, what a miracle it was
Because of their delay ---
The second hole they drilled
Was right in every way.
 

The first one would have sent
The water rushing madly in
And they could not have made it
From the place that they had been..
 

They sent a yellow capsule down
To bring the first man from the mine
Then sent it down eight more times ---
To make the total  --- NINE!!
 

Oh, how they all clapped and cheered
When each one did appear
How thankful were their families
Who had suffered through such fear.

As each one reached the top
A stretcher was waiting there
To take them to a triage ---
To receive the greatest care.
 

They were wet, and cold, and hungry
But so glad to be alive
They were amazed at all the people
So determined that they would survive.
 

The Governor threw both arms up
And shouted “Nine of nine”
Miraculously rescued ---
From their prison  in the mine.
 

They were warmed, and cleaned, and nourished
Then sent by ambulance and air
To various trauma centers ---
They’d be reunited there
 

With their loved ones, who had been waiting
Through each long day and night
And all their prayers were answered
For all would be all right.
 

‘Twas just a few days later
I saw them all on my TV
As each one spoke, my teardrops fell
Till I could hardly see.
 

As I thanked the Lord above
For each and every one
I also prayed He’d care for them
Until their healing’s done.

It won’t be an easy job
To come back all the way
But I’m sure they will succeed
And put their trust in God  each day.
 

I’m so proud of our country
And I am so glad to be
Living in America ---
Where  we can all be free.
 

Where friends and strangers come together
With such willing unity ---
And put forth all their efforts
Whatever the need might be.
 

THANK YOU, GOD

THANK YOU, AMERICA

This rescue operation took place in Somerset, PA
ten miles from the site of the “Flight 93” crash landing
on 9/11, where all of the people on the hi-jacked plane
perished, as heroes, trying to prevent yet one more tragedy,
from taking place in Washington, DC, following the
horrific events that had already taken so many lives.

THEY WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN!!

Pearl E. Cain