A SOUND OF ALARM
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 Have you ever been awakened at night by a siren? That sound you hear
when a police car, fire truck or ambulance is rushing to the scene of some emergency? It
can be scary because it is so loud and you know that something bad has happened -- an
accident, fire or a crime.In fact, the word "siren" is very old and used to mean something
different from the meaning it has today.In the old stories, the Sirens were beautiful women who lived by
the edge of the sea. They could sing so sweetly that anyone who heard them would forget
everything that he or she was doing and try to get closer to them to hear better.If you happened to be a sailor, as most of the unlucky people who
heard them were, you would jump overboard and try to swim to them or even steer the whole
ship toward them. This always happened -- with one famous exception -- according to the
old stories. It was invariably a bad mistake because it resulted in drowning and shipwreck.And so the Sirens came to be associated with disaster.THE SIREN Today, I thought about the siren. And then sat down and wrote This little poem about it and its single, doleful note To show it's more than just a noise that comes from a machine. Now, read the poem and you will learn exactly what I mean. The sound that frightens us at night: the wailing of the siren. In daytime, too, it tends to scare when heard in our environs. It's loud, it's shrill, it startles us. We know there's something wrong Whenever we do chance to hear the siren's mournful song. Imagine in some distant place your very dearest friend Was lost or hurt or in a jam. You'd want your help to send. And sure you'd want your friend to know that help was on its way And all the folks for miles around to clear the way -- and pray. If it were me, I'll tell you what: I'd holler, scream and yell As loud and long as ever I could till all the world I'd tell How much I cared, how far I'd run to help a friend in need Or any fellow human of any gender, race or creed. You see, the siren's just the sound of all our many voices Joined as one to voice concern for one more common crisis. To one who's lost or hurt or scared, it says: "Help's on the way". To all the rest of us it says: "It might be you some day." So, when you hear that sound and someone's asking or inquiring, Tell them that we're listening to our good old friend the siren. Not the kind that long ago lured sailors to disaster But that which helps to clear the way so help can get there faster. Go To TABLE OF CONTENTS  Questions? E-mail Us! CONSTANTINE'S CIRCUS, INC. PO Box 7223 Capitol Station Albany, NY 12224-0223 518-465-4413 518-465-3200 FAX |
