Fifteen years ago
I made a solemn vow
That I would always remember
That day is etched
Imagines seared
Permanently in my mind
The horror of planes
Filled with precious human souls
Lives extinguished in an instant
What kind of person would do this
Intentionally crash a plane into a building
That’s the day, I left naïve behind
Oh the living hell they must have endured
Above the points of impact, now left to choose
Do I jump or die in this inferno
Desperate phone calls and messages went out
Pleas for help that would never reach them
Love proclaimed by voices that would soon be silenced
Firemen and police officers
Dedicated to serve and protect
Answered the call that day and laid down their lives
110 story skyscrapers don’t collapse!
Not just one, but two towers came down that day
Dust clouds chasing those who miraculously survived
Unthinkable evil struck again
Another plane filled with precious human souls
Used as a missile, plowed headlong into the Pentagon
Lives extinguished
Devastating injuries
Wounds, far deeper, scared the souls of those who survived
The war against evil began that day
It started on United 93
Courageous, heroic passengers said, “No! We’re taking it back.”
On that day it didn’t matter
Black, White, Asian, Hispanic, Native American
We were all one…Americans United
Can it really be
There’s a generation that wasn’t alive
Or those who don’t remember that fateful day
There isn’t a day that goes by
When I don’t remember
Recall afresh the horror of that day
It may be a plane overhead
A tall building on the horizon
A police officer or firefighter passing by
An American flag flying in the breeze
Saying the Pledge of Allegiance
Singing “Oh, say, can you see” evokes tears
To those whose lives were extinguished
Those who lost family or friends
I vow to always remember
by Susan Wachtel
September 11, 2016
