Broken Skyline &^0^&

[Max]

When I was just a boy
Far from who you see
I endured a day
That will forever stay with me
I remember, the teacher’s haunting words
At the time they seemed so absurd
Rumors flew, and our fear grew
Life would never be the same

AT THAT, RIPE YOUNG AGE
I COULDN’T UNDERSTAND
WHY COWARDS WITH BOXCUTTERS
WOULD DEVISE SUCH A PLAN
I COULDN’T COMPREHEND THE CARNAGE
COULDN’T CONFRONT FATE
AND THAT DAY, WAS LIFE’S HARSHEST LESSON
BECAUSE IT TAUGHT ME TO HATE

The TV screen showed
Two pillars spewing fire
Poisoning the sky
These memories never tire
I hoped for those trapped inside
That help would soon arrive
But hope relapsed, as the pillars collapsed
Life would never be the same

MY RETINA WAS SEARED
AS PART OF THE CITY DIED
TO ESCAPE A MORE DREADFUL FATE
PEOPLE JUMPED FROM THE SKY
I CAN RECALL THE EXACT TIME
THAT I SAW EACH PILLAR FALL
OF THE RADICALS IN ARABIA
I WISHED DEATH UPON THEM ALL

I will forever remember
That fateful September
The fire and ember
The unconditional surrender
Of our false sense of security
That is no longer in me
Oh, my sweet New York City
Oh, my sweet New York City…

Under tons of concrete and steel
Pain unimagined became real
Wounds unfathomed cannot heal
And it makes me wanna cry
Every time that I pass by
My precious and broken skyline



NOTE: You have just read my personal account on how I felt on September 11th, 2001. At the age of 13, that day changed me more than any single day in my life, more than any single death of a family member or friend. I want to say that the line "radicals in arabia... death upon them all" refers to the terrorists and only the terrorists, I am not a racist. Thank you very much for taking the time to read this piece.

-Max

[apocalypticjay]

I loved the emotion in this piece Max although I don't agree that 'terrorist' did this to your beautiful country I can understand why people do think it was them. I don't want to turn this into a debate so I will just leave it at that. I watched the world trade center and the pain and loss of lives was painfully disgusting! I will forever remember that day as a day that the world cried not just America. May they rest in piece!

[Artemis]

I'm torn between what Jay says and what they say and who they say did it, however, this piece was just so powerful, emotionally and realistically. I can't imagine what you must have gone through in all honesty. As a British citizen I watched with despair and horror that day, I remember I was at work when I heard the news, came home and saw it with my own eyes. It was absolutely terifying and those poor people. I knew a firefighter who has been treated like crap by the government. He has PTSD, mental health issues and breathing disease now, it's just horrific.

I admire you for writing this, it must have been hard. exalt Kerry xx

[Max]

Thank you, Jay and Kerry. Your words mean a lot to me.

[stacy (FINALLY back!)]

Very powerful and gripping, hun. I think you have managed to be the voice of so many through your talented poetic pen. EXALT!

[Max]

Thank you very much, Stacey. This was, and is still, a troubling day for me. I am a social recluse on every 11th of September... ironically, my half birthday.

[Dr Fogg]

Of course this was not just an American tragedy, over three hundred British people died in those towers. We In Britain know only to well about terrorism from Northern Ireland. Terrorising civil populations is an obscene way to act. But as in Ireland sooner or later one has to address the issues that cause terrorism. AMerica has for years supported israel to the tune of 20 billion dollars a year to be spent on arms. Arms used to keep the palestinians in their sub human ghettos, money used to pay for troops to intimately search and humiliate palestinians as they cross borders. If i lived their would I fight? would you? of course. Hopefully Americas new government will bring a new insight into this situation. I loved your heartfelt and moving poem,excuse my rant.

[NewMan™]

September 11th was our Pearl Harbor, our "remember the Alamo", it was the day our generation united in horror and watched helplessly as men who hated our way of life murdered many innocent people.

I think what I will always remember most that day was no airplanes allowed in the skies. A no fly rule for the entire country.

I live in Florida and G. Bush was only an hour down the road speaking at a grade school when this all went down. Everyone was just so stunned and glued to their televisions. Words were not an option as the only ones speaking that day were the reporters.

I felt for New York. Such a lively city, it is the big apple, then this happens.. At least in Pearl Harbor it was a military base that was bombed, in New York it was normal people, business people, tourists.. New York had 3 symbols, The Empire State, The Statue of Liberty and The World Trade Center.. Now there are only two left and you can believe the whole country will protect those two.

I know you live in NY. I am sure you know people who were touched that day with a loss.. My heart goes out to you and your neighbors.

~ Daniel

[Max]

I feel honored for having this poem as the week's featured poem... this is a very personal piece for me. Thank you all for your thoughtful and generous comments, my dear friends.