Never Forget

I remember

morning sunshine

brightly dancing across the room

and the mundane task

of checking homework

to the buzz of middle-school voices

 

I remember

an urgent knock

on the classroom door,

and the careworn face of Sister Mary

 

I remember

details scant and sinister

diluted for the sake of young souls -

no joy in that Tuesday’s early dismissal

 

I remember

watching the grey shroud descend

over and over and over…

an endless loop of heartache

 

I remember

standing in a line of saddened citizens

desperate to do . . . something

and being turned away

because,

of course,

blood was not needed for survivors…

 

I remember

going to bed but not sleeping

that night

of the day

the world changed

 

I will never forget

Reviews

[D]

I was 7 years old on this day. I sat in my 2nd grade classroom room, totally oblivious to what was taking place. The reactions of my teachers let me know that something heavy was happening. You could feel it. Thank you for sharing your perspective.

[cooncomemasi]

Wow. You are a great storyteller, Rita. Much respect for the ending, it really hits the spot.

I remember
going to bed but not sleeping
that night
of the day
the world changed

 I will never forget

[Michael G. Smith]

A very poweful ode. You've awoken the remembrance in me.

[Troy Henson]

Nor will ever forget this day. The memories will reman with us all that were old enough to witness this one day that changed the world forever.

You've pulled at the heart strings here, Rita.

[Chris]

a most poignant reminder of Evil when left unchallenged...

[Einstein Noodle]

well said Rita! it pulls my heart with every remembrance ..it's like knowing exactly where i was and what i was doing when JFK was assassinated .. staring in dumb horror at the news casts .. and in remembering we do honor to all those murdered so cruelly :((
E.

[LawrenceRaybon]

Absolutely beautiful. The straight-forward style along with the halting meter conveys a sense of shock and numbness. While the words themselves coupled with the memory of the event itself not described (diluted for the sake of younger souls), captures the heart-aching reality so many of us remember. Wonderful.

The only thing I saw that you might consider changing would be to take, 'desperate to do...something' and move the 'something' to it's own line. But it's a matter of personal taste.

You can't hear it, but I'm clapping for you right now.

[Motherless]

This will always be a sad and never forgotten day for those of us with compassion for people everywhere in the world. Your sadness is very well expressed.

[1VJ]

I don't think anyone can forget where they were in those moments, a great tribute to honor the day when we lost so many souls at a high cost to our sense of freedom.

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you, Paloma.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

this is so moving...and i too, will never forget watching the second plane hit, just as i was watching the news of the first plane...and there it was, happened again...and then they knew...it was no accident, and our world had definitely changed..
you capture that moment from 2001, so vividly...i felt like i was watching all over again.

[Rita L. Sev]

It's so strange that it was so long ago, yet still so vivid in my mind... those kids are adults now, but I still see their shocked young faces... Thank you, Jacob.