Where Were You? 9/11/2001

Facedwith a typical Tuesday morning,

Nodrama on the workday schedule.

Arrivingearly in a caffeine stupor and

Readyto tread in tempestuous seas.

 

Thenews arrives slowly, trickling in:

Aplane, a building, small tragedy brewing.

Nothought of terror or hell-bent insanity.

That kind of thing doesn’thappen here.

 

Andthen it does –

A second catastrophe

Man-madein vengeance –

            No logic, no mercy.

Andnow a third and yet a fourth.

Howmany furies fly? How many innocents

Yetto perish ‘ere the nightmare resolves?

Howmany unanswered questions arise?

Wewatch, we wait, we pray for fair outcome,

Butdread obscures hope in a sickening mist.

 

Andthen the sky comes tumbling down,

Firstone then the other in fury and fire.

Andthe world stops turning as the toll keeps rising.

Westand in stunned silence, shivering, numb.

 

Ourresolve ferments as the dust starts to settle.

Weseek understanding but grasp only air.

Todaywe will grieve seeking out bitter comfort.

Tomorrowthe serpent – A duty to pay.