Never Forget - 9/11/01

Six years. Six years ago life as we know it as Americans changed. Life as we know it as a country was never to be quite the same again. As our parents and grandparents used to tell us that they remember exactly what they were doing on the day JFK was shot, we all will never forget where we were the moment we heard about the first plane, then the second...then the rest.

I wrote the following poem on September 26, 2001. The country would change so much more between then and now. I had decided earlier this weekend that I would locate this poem, and post it as my tribute to all those fallen on that day. When I dug it out last night, I had to take a moment to realize that the sense of hope and pride I felt when it was written was due to the incredible sense of community that arose in the weeks that followed the attacks. I had to remind myself that back then, after the most horrific terrorist acts we had ever faced as a nation, we were actually less jaded then we are now. A lot has happened to make us so jaded, but I'd like to believe a bit of that hope for the future still remains.

Tuesday Morning

When I awoke

the sun was shining

I could smell the ocean breeze

the birds singing

the world was grand

I started my day with ease

Then the phone rang

"turn on the tv

You won't believe your eyes"

And then I saw it

the second impact

terror coming from he skies

"What's going on?"

I asked dumbfounded

"Is the world falling apart?"

As time progressed

I learned much more

The knowledge broke my heart

"Oh my God

There it goes"

Someone said to the crowd

And as it fell

our hopes crumbled

the country sighed out loud

How could this be?

Here , in America?

We're not supposed to cry

On a Tuesday morning

for no good reason?

People aren't supposed to die

But things have changed

The world is different

We'll never again be the same

But how we stand proud

The United States

Much more than just a name

My heart still broken

My eyes, still moist

I still can't make much sense

But I've seen the focus

such prayer, such unity

The world's love so intense

They shook foundations

They collapsed buildings

They took human lives that day

But we won't be rattled

Won't be destroyed

God Bless the USA

Copyright 2007 - Karina