immediately confronted there
by an acrid, overwhelming odor
which filled the air and left
indelible impressions upon me
its taste lingering for days and
images which will never fade
the remnants of blazing fire
decaying, now doused of flame
still, a smoldering reality
 
gathered by a chapel whose
wrought-iron fence transformed
gilded by myriad sundry expressions -
gifted flowers of bereavement
lost faces sought and remembered
messages from the world’s every corner
votive candles flickering in the breeze
 
the normal city bustle, hushed
so strangely subdued while
a constant flow of humanity
circled the hallowed site
weaving its way amongst
ghostly ashen sentinels
passing in somber homage
condolences silently rendered
waking tumbled colossi
 
many-storied high rubble of
twisted girders and crumbled concrete
avalanched from remaining façades
and opened cutaway office views
provide us glimpses into lives
no longer led, so tragically lost
 
an uneasiness swelled within my gut
remaining questions arose in my mind -
what hatred spurred such despicable acts
what demented cowards carried it through
what resolve is required to combat this evil
how that day has forever changed the world
 
pondering the thousands of lives
wasted by this heinous, brutal act
the tremendous agony and sorrow
suffered by grieving loved ones;
peering at the many sullen faces
clearly written with awestruck disbelief
it brought little comfort for me to see
that my own eyes were not alone in
continuing to shed these fallen tears
 

11/24/2001

Posted on 11/25/2001
Copyright © 2024 David R Spellman