I wrote this poem on September 17th, 2001. It differs slightly from the published version.
9-12-01
I join a human chain that trails
Into the heart of disaster
We pass remains of mighty towers
Hand over hand, bit by bit
Atlas, Hercules, Achilles
All would balk at this, yet
Now they stand shoulder to shoulder with
Our heroes moving this rubble mountain
Task taken hungrily on by Americans
For us there is no job too large
I feel privileged to touch
Each sacred shard of debris
Every length of twisted steel or
Boulder of smashed concrete
Once belonged to twin monuments
Born in our youth
Paid for with our tears, sweat,
And holy blood
Of those trapped, buried dead
And we who tirelessly toil
Painstakingly to set them
Free.

Comments