Aftermath

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.