The Longest Day
a first person, upfront and dazed accounting of the events of September 11th, 2001 at the Pentagon.
At first it’s just a story
that I cannot believe
and as I listen to the news
too horrific to conceive
a monolithic testament
is burning in the sky
I haven’t quite digested it
or started yet to cry
and as I wonder how it happened
what mistake it could have been
reality just laughs at me
it’s happening again
another plane explodes
the twin is now ablaze
what in hell is happening
is this the end of days?
and I wantingly accept
this numbness I am needing
to absorb the sheer destruction
of events that are proceeding
so many dead already
so many more to die
so many left to grieve
and forever wonder why
I’m thinking of those children
gone forever in the flights
of those who lost their parents
and now must face the nights
is there anything that I can do
from here so far away
can I help them all to make it through
and face another day
and I’m feeling rather guilty
because I’m safe from harm
tucked tightly in the pentagon
no reason for alarm
but then my world falls down around me
my life forever changes
my every sense assaulted
as existence rearranges
now I’m moving in slow motion
as the world is whizzing by
and I cannot come to terms with it
no matter how i try
running on adrenaline
in these moments too surreal
trying not to think
not knowing how to feel
now I’m watching from a distance
though I’m standing in the wake
this isn’t really happening
it must be a mistake
the smoke climbs ever upward
seething dark with gloom
as wretched affirmation
in form of portent plume
on the bodies that we carry out
are faces that I know
so many lives forever changed
in one sadistic blow
and there’s nothing I can do now
so I turn and walk away
I need a place to sit and think
and reconcile this day
traffic isn’t moving
so I have to park my car
I find an open door
and wander to the bar
and it’s here the final act
in this day has been revealed
another plane explodes
in a Pennsylvania field
and we listen to this news
detached for sake of mind
no longer seeking reason
for there is none to find
and I hold in reservation
a patriotic pride
at the bold determination
in this last heroic ride
I want to sing in celebration
of how they paid this cost
so save the lives of others
and honor those we’ve lost
but this act is not congealing
amidst the greater strife
of my country’s gaping wound
and appalling loss of life
so I finish what I’m drinking
and again I find my feet
step out into the acrid air
and silence in the street
now I’m walking to the darkness
where I started out my day
and logic tells me something’s wrong
I’m going the wrong way
as I witness history unfold
my friends have gathered round
we share without a spoken word
a sadness soo profound
the smoke begins to dissipate
and people start to move
we still don’t know who did this
or what there was to prove
and I turn and take the day’s last walk
with much left yet to do
my family will want to talk
and know I made it through
so I pass the bar, find my car
and throw it into drive
and climb into the southbound lane
thankful I’m alive.
(2001)
