The tears never cease,
And the pain is still there.
I think back to another time,
Back to another place.
I remember marble hallways,
Flags of every nation,
And people here and there
Going off to everywhere.
In my mind I walk those hallways
For I cannot walk them anymore,
I see every face I once saw
And make the names up to myself.
I think of the good and the bad,
I think of the goals and the dreams,
And one word floats behind it forever,
Why? Why? Why?
I can't help but think back
To that day way back when,
Standing on my front porch
Breathing it all in.
Holding my pet rabbit
And watching the clouded sky,
Seeing all my friends and foes
Together, frozen, by me.
No place to go, nothing to do,
A smell so foul I could taste it,
A sight so horrible it stained.
I think back to the red cup
I refuse to throw away,
For there it sat in the open window
And now it sits, on my shelf,
Four inches of ash inside.
I look inside and wonder
What that ash has seen,
But I know damn well what it is
And refuse to flush it away.
Inside that cup are the memories
Of running through marble halls,
Of riding up gold elevators
One hundred and ten flights up.
Inside that cup are the dreams,
The goals, and all the faces
Of those people I gave names to
Who are no longer on this Earth.
Inside that cup is what is left
Of the childhood I'll never forget,
For inside that cup lies the ashes
Of two buildings once tall and proud.
Author notes
This is a memory poem. I lived 10 minutes away from WTC for almost my entire life, and in my earlier years I lived even closer to it. On 9/11/01, I watched the buildings crumble from my front porch. This poem is just a memory. The red cup exists, and is sealed over with plastic wrap. The area I was in got large clouds of ash from the WTC when the wind blew right and the smoke went over my house, and by the time it was over that cup had gathered 4 inches of it. I never had the heart to throw it away.
Written September 11th, 2003
In a list
A contest entry
- Contest! by withdrawal.
300 points, ended March 7, 2005, 21 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 9 of 9
-
It was a tragic day, I remember it well. I watched it on the news that morning and although I don't know anyone who lives there, I felt the pain and numbnes afterwards. It was awful.
Thank you for entering such a beautiful poem.
Good Luck.
~Jenners -
perfect
It's horrible how it seems that such a tradgedy is the only thing that can unify a group or nation of people. And it's amazing how well everyone bonded together so quickly. I live in California. Not even close to ten minutes away from the WTC. But I watched that second plane go in live. And then replayed over and over only to find out that I was watching the flight of one I knew. I was watching her die. Don't throw the ash away. And if you ever feel that you can't look at it anymore, please let me know because I would love to have it. I would love to have something to bury other than pictures. Thank you so much for this. Even now, three years later, that's exactly what I needed. -
wow. this obviously meant alot to you. i loved this piece alot. thanks for entering the contest and goodluck!
-amy -
This is an astounding work of art, not only the background and picture but the poem is utterly amazing. I never knew anyone I just read the stories but your perspective is astounding. Keep penning and good luck in the contest.
-
OMG this is the most amazin peice yet i loved this i felt rather emotional when i read this piece i'm so sorry that happened i can't explain this piece because it'd take to long in the short term A WORK OF ART truely well done and good luck
Edited on Dec 17, 1:17 p.m. because ''. -
There just aren't words to give this piece enough praise and credit. I just have this big lump in my throat. Thank you for sharing your view of a piece of history.
-
this is so beautiful..i've never known really anybody who actually saw the towers go down. one of my teacher's husbands cousin was on one of the planes, but other than that, really no connection. i still dont know who u are, how ur life has been, but i know how u feel, what u see inside that cup-the faces, the bodies, the hearts, the souls, the memories..all leading to somewhere better. im sorry u had to see it all happen, maybe im lucky..i dont know. but this what beautiful..that i do know. i applaud you. God bless,
~kristi -
wow....this was amazing. This was really sad. im sorry. *sobs* great write.
-
Very inspirational
Wow now this is very professionally done, Im can honestly say this is a real work of art. I thank God that I had never lost anyone though I cry that I never got to see them and never will. This reminds me very well of that day because I have many friends who had uncles, aunts and even parents working in the WTC. Very inspirational
Adding your comment:
1 - 9 of 9
5 old applause
