I join a human chain that trails
Into the heart of disaster

We pass remains of mighty towers
Hand over hand, bit by bit

Atlas, Hercules, Achilles
All would balk at this, yet

Now they stand shoulder to shoulder with
Our heroes moving this rubble mountain

Task taken hungrily on by Americans
For us there is no job too large

I feel privileged to touch
Each sacred shard of debris

Every length of twisted steel or
Boulder of smashed concrete

Once belonged to twin monuments
Born in our youth

Paid for with our tears, sweat,
And holy blood

Of those trapped, buried dead
And we who tirelessly toil