This is a poem I wrote the night of Sept 11 when I could not yet sleep. I think I may have lost it on an old computer and had been looking for it recently, but an old friend spontaneously posted it to my Facebook wall this morning. Another loving reminder of how I am blessed.
The Day
Armed with coffee, I arrive at the office
… having successfully navigated
a tractor trailer accident
the Dunkin Donuts’ drive-through
and those automated gates in the parking garage
Coffee still hot and email unread
the 1st call comes
a single plane crashed into an international symbol of commerce
accident or intent?
before the question has fully formed in our minds
the 2nd call comes
accident is ruled out
twin towers
twin destruction
the chaos begins
on the longest day of our lives
our military headquarters
that impenetrable fortress
penetrated with brutal deliberate force
somewhere someone is laughing
the drama increases
as each tower collapses
enveloping an already dazed populace
with ash and soot
… fanning out like an evil menace
coating us all
getting into all of our collective pores
making it impossible to see anything
but red, under the clear blue sky
across the country, we reach out to each other
are you okay?
no, me neither…
in this divided society,
we, who are often at one another’s throats,
we are at once united
united in tragedy
united in confusion
united in concern
this day which will be remembered by all but the youngest
we realize there is BEFORE this day
and AFTER
but now there is still this day
this uncertainty
this vulnerability, which brings us closer
after all…
there are survivors to pray for
loved ones to comfort
flags to be lowered
blood to be donated
as I sink into my pillow
I marvel at the stark difference between
the world I woke up in and…
the world I go to sleep in.
— amanda allen, 9/11/01
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