The shovels scraped br and dug. br The laborers bent br their backs. br The bucket brigade br passed from hand to hand. br br Then a whistle blew, br and the silence, so terrible, br engulfed the scene, br and the listening began, br br With prayers rising br to the dust-filled sky br that one voice, br just one human voice, br would be heard br amidst the rubble. br br *This was the saddest of times, br as this quiet descended and br the rescue workes listened in br hopes to hear one victim that br they could dig out of 911. When br that whistle blew, a total silence br came down, and you could almost br hear the people's prayers.