The mirror, it hangs waiting on the wall
All covered with mist from the shower
I take a towel and wipe it clean
Too many things on my mind at this hour
I open the door and let out the steam
A chill in the air flows against my skin
I stand there, naked, with my thoughts
As one ends it seems another begins...
I'd just sat in horror, my eyes glued to the TV
Oh, how I wished it was just a crazy dream
As one tower burned the other was hit by a plane
In the very next scene: The Pentagon in flames
In all the madness and chaos of that day
I heard our leaders say that we'll retaliate
That our nation's strong and we won't back down
That we will not stop 'til the culprits are found...
'til they are hunted down...
Chorus:
Up from the ashes, voices in unity
(Don't tread on me, don't tread on me)
My country, tis of thee
(Don't tread on me, don't tread on me)
From sea to shining sea...
God bless you and me...
Don't tread on me, don't bang on my door
Don't wanna hear ya whine about some "holy war"
Don't burn my flag to display your hate
Mess with me and I'll seal your fate
In the reflection I see my eyes
They're blue, outlined by jagged lines of red
The mirror, it does not lie
But it can't show what's inside my head
I see a coward in the East
Hiding behind his misguided faith
Thousands murdered for his cause
Coz his disillusioned mind is filled with hate
We will avenge the blood spilled on our streets
This act of terror, it'll never see repeat
This great nation's not crying down on its knees
We'll fight day and night to assure evil's defeat
Crawl back under your rock, you wicked little snake
These venomous acts of yours we won't tolerate
Shoulda thought twice before you knocked on our door
You may have drawn first blood, but you won't win the war
Repeat Chorus
/Break/
Repeat Chorus
The smoke over New York will clear
And the sun will shine bright again
The children will again play in the street
Singing, "You can't tread on me"
[Kids singing
"You can't tread on me, you can't tread on me,"
playground noises, laughing...]
Author notes
Inspired by the events of Sept. 11. 2001, originally written shortly after. I mean no offense to anyone of any nationality. Neither race nor country define terrorism.
Photo credit: Concordville.org
In a list
- War & Remembrance • next in list
- ♦ Honorable Mention • next in list
- ♣ Silver • next in list
- ♥ Gold • next in list
A contest entry
- AMERICA LAND OF THE FREE AND HOME OF THE BRAVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! by Talking Toni.
600 points, ended July 31, 2008, 22 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Tribute To 9/11 by Talking Toni.
1200 points, ended October 11, 2008, 40 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - A tribute to all the fallen hero's of 9-11 by trekkergirl.
400 points, ended September 12, 2008, 14 entries
Silver trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - This Contest Is In Honor Of 9/11 by Kari.
1200 points, ended October 4, 2008, 35 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Remembrance of 9-11 QUICKIE by lesbian-in-love.
675 points, ended September 12, 12 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 26 of 26
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wow this is really sad. congrats on the gold!!
xxx
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First of congratualions on the Gold!...I am honoured to have read this beautiful powerful piece...Such a mastepiece here in my book...I look forward to reading more of your work my dad CelticPoet told me about you...Hazel
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Congrats on the Gold!!
this is truly a beautiful and most powerful
piece, I remember that day so well... it was
quit shocking and filled with such uncertainity
you did a materpiece, withthis write and the
song i could hear it in my head,
well done Tim,
with love and blessings
Rend
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Thank you, Rend
I was actually working on a song called "The Mirror" when 9/11 happened...It was a retrospective song, looking back, etc...Portions of the original are in the opening lines of this piece. Anywho, when 9/11 happened, my retrospect didn't seem to be a big deal anymore and the lyrics reflect my temperment at the time.
As always, I do greatly appreciate your comments & clappies -- but mostly your friendship. Thank you.
Love & blessings,
~ Tim
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thank you for your entry glad to have
good luck
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Wow this was really good. The first song that I have gotten in the contest. I enjoyed the chorus. Well actually I enjoyed the whole thing. Thanks for entering and good luck!
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A very emotional song that you wrote. Thank you for sharing it with us
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Very powerful words! We all want to fight and get them back, but will it really solve anything? Good luck in the contest. You have written a powerful song.
Rose
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Very interesting indeed. I have to admit, some of my own thoughts mirrored some of yours. I had been in the shower when my family started going beserk over the first plane hitting the first tower, they dragged me out of the shower and I actually stood there dripping wet wrapped in a towel as the 2nd plane hit.
Its amazing what you remember...
Thank you for sharing this write with us.
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Interesting...
Again, as with the last poem I read in this contest, I think this was an interesting take on a topical subjcet. While I wouldn't agree with everything you said [and im sure i'm not alone in that =)], I can still see that this was powerfully written.
I am sure too that I am not the only one who would love to hear this set to music =) Best wishes, and good luck in the contest! -
Wow! Just love this. It is definitely a piece of art. I love everything you say in this... and how you detail so well how you and our entire nation has felt during this time. thanks for sharing. Thanks for entering this in my contest. And thanks for honoring our fallen heroes.
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Love It!!!!
A great lyrical piece you have penned here...would love to hear it sang I bet it is just beautiful...Thanks you for such a lovely entry detailing how you felt how our entire nation felt on 9/11!!! The best of luck in my contest!!!~~~Toni~~~ -
Love this. Its still a bit hard to read things like about 9/11. Although so much time has passed, there are still very open wounds hours and hours away from ground zero.
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My father is in the Army and I feel very strong about the events that took place on the 9th of September. This is amazing. One of the best things I've read in a VERY VERY long time. You should try to get this published. It's really amazing.
Great job,
Emily Jo
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This is brilliant beyond brilliant. I liked the way you started in the shower with the image of the steamed-up mirror. That made this work very real and very personal to you. It is too bad more people don't remember what that day felt like. Thank you for writing this.
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I like this. It is very good, I think the chorus is the best part.
Good work!!!
Thank you for entering. -
*nods* Powerful piece...*nods* I'd like it more if I was really Patriotic...but I think it gets the message across well.
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You Sing It!!!!!!!!!!
I would love to hear this is song!!! It should be taught to all children in ths country as they are already trying to sugar coat 9/11, trying to lay bkame on Bush when it is abundantly clear it was the radial Muslim cowards spweing their hatred for us through this trecherous form of murder!!! I love this and I thank you for your entry and if you want, go read my 9/11 tribute called "I Will Always Remember" Thanks for your entry and the best of luck in my contest!!!~~Toni~~
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Wonderfully spoken! We are a nation "One Under God" and the acts of those days and the days that followed are proof of it...we shall never fall without the Fight in Unity...
Hard subject written so well...you did a lovely job...
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, you semed to sum up so much for many of us...
Blessings,
mystic
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Lyrically lovely...I remember this day so well. I was just home from the hospital recovering from open heart surgery. I awoke in a drug induced stupor to see all this unfold on the big screen.
I have many feelings concerning this...I shall not share all of them for they are so personal to me.
My nephew was one of the first sent over to fight...I watched his mother lead a living death.
All I can say is war is never the answer and violence begets violence...
I did enjoy this write. It is well written and would be so nice to hear with music.
Blessings to all who suffer from the effects of hatred and destruction.
Especially children who have no clue what is going on around them. Other than they are suffering and have wronged no one.
You are most lyrical!!!
Blessings~
Sue
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A powerful and emotional song. I can understand the anger and patriotism expressed in here. On a personal level I feel the lust for revenge America showed following 9/11 was misplaced, and the actions of the government in passing legislation removing various civil rights such as the patriot act was nothing short of criminal. However my personal feelings take nothing away from the power of this piece. Thanks for your entry.
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Myrataal said it all
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I appauld you! This is a fantastic write on a tough subject but it shows the emotion that most all Americians had during this tragic time.
(sadly)
It also makes me feel very proud of our country and all the soidiers that are serving now.
Up from the ashes, voices in unity
(Don't tread on me, don't tread on me)
My country, tis of thee
(Don't tread on me, don't tread on me)
From sea to shining sea...
God bless you and me...
God Bless
love,
~Lisa~
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I can but say this:
we know little of what happened ... but God knows ... We may nurture the snake in our bosoms ... The real war is not of flesh, but of spirit ...
We are our own kings in our private kingdoms. Do we reign, or do we let evil intrude our souls? External structures will fall, but the pillars of Light erected in the spiritual realm are powerful and strong.
Let those who killed innocent people come to the forth. Let the culprits be brought to justice: not by us, but by the wrath of God. And: we also have nothing to say about his Mercy, which is beyond our forgiveness.
Powerful work, Poet.
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BRAVO!
Superb! 'Nuff said!
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The smoke over New York will clear, but the hearts of the American's on than tragic day were made stronger, as we stood United! Wonderful song! ~Sie
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