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Sunday, November 11, 2001

Untitled Document

Inspired verse

By Geri McShane

Tribune lifestyles editor

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Winds of War

There is terror in the winds of war

As it blows upon our nation’s shore.

America remembers September eleven

As we pray for strength from our Lord in heaven.

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Lord, grant us wisdom to do what is right

And America will win this awful fight

For there is evil in the winds of war

And it’s the love for freedom we are fighting for.

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Lord, you only know how it will end

America will not fall, though she may bend

As there is hell in the winds of war

And it blows hard and strong upon our nation’s shore.

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So God, please bless America again

Like you did when it first began.

Don’t let her fall to the winds of war

For it’s you and her freedom she’s fighting for.

Over the last 30-plus years, Jon M. Christenson has written countless poems, but he says none of them have gotten the response that this one has.

&uot;I’ve gotten a lot of feedback from throughout Iowa,&uot; said the Northwood, Iowa, man. &uot;Some of my friends put it on the Internet, and I’ve gotten responses from people asking for copies. I’ve even gotten compliments from people who I never expected compliments from.&uot;

Christenson said he wrote the poem about a week after the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

&uot;I had all kinds of thoughts going through my head at that point,&uot; said Christenson.

&uot;Anger was my first thought,&uot; he added.

He said poetry has always been the easiest way for him to sit down and put his thoughts together.

&uot;I started writing about when I was in Vietnam, and then about general things after that,&uot; Christenson said. &uot;I write about just about anything.&uot; he added

Over the years, Christenson has had eight poetry booklets published and has won between six and eight awards for his work. &uot;I enter different contests announced in magazines and Writer’s Digest. I’ve won publishing contracts through them and three of my poems have been recorded as demos for songs.&uot;

Christenson, a graduate of Emmons High School, is the son of Hazel Christenson of Clarks Grove. He has been employed at Streater in Albert Lea for 14 years, and is currently in his second year as Third District VFW Commander in Iowa.