A trip, to the top, of the World Trade Center

Another young adventure...

A trip ,to the top, of the World Trade Center

 A day trip, to New York,

a cool Autumn’s day

seeing the sights,

one by one.

A trip down Broadway

a ferry ride to Ellis Island

A long walk up the Statue of Liberty

Finally, to the World Trade Center.

"This is where Daddy comes to work everyday"

my mother, bragging

Four excited children,

running to the edge of the roof top

pamphlets in hand.

My hands hit the railing

my pamphlet flies outward

then downward

For the first time in my life

I felt , the awesome power

of gravitational pull.

I lean gingerly over the railing

against my mother’s request

watching my pamphlet

floating toward the ground below

realizing, just how far of a drop

it really was

then vertigo set in...

It’s time to go...whoa!

Twenty-four years later...

In my minivan,

about to take my girls to school

Over the hustle and bustle

of our usual morning commute,

the radio newscaster announces...

The first tower has been hit

I don’t believe my ears

It must be a joke

the newscaster continued

then, reality set in...

The pit of my stomach

tightened,

as I try to explain the unexplainable

to my two young daughters in the back seat.

The words...just wouldn’t come.

I fumbled around

but got it out,

we listened to the news report

for the remainder of the ride

in utter, disbelief 

Sandra Ferrara Gentry 2008

Reviews

[R J Askew]

This is definitely the strongest of the ones I have just read of yours. I like it very much. It's very moving and personal...it brings all the pictures back and you take the reader's mind to the top of the buildings and we feel your vertigo. Also going back to your own childhood takes us all back to more innocent times. And then the link between your and your own childrens' experience...very moving. And all true. Many people will have made the same trip at you up the buildings and this poem would stir memories for them all...and millions of people will remember what they were doing when the first news reports came through of the outrage. And of course, we recall human forms surrendering to the same gravity you describe in your poem of a nation's composure rocked by evil events.

[Spoken]

I agree with Orlando.. this was very strong. I love the way you described the seemingly small event that occured at the towers as a child. I'm sure this one will make us all stop and think about that day and where we were, what we were doing.. how the world stopped. wonderful

[Ladysue]

Sandi, I love the way you told this story too. It left the reader with a myriad of feelings, remembrances and it took me right back to that morning. I will never forget the disbelief. I turned on my tv and I thought at first it was some movie until I changed the channel and there it was again. I still couldn't comprehend as I switched the channel, until finally the second plane hit. I stood in such disbelief. You know my brother had an appointment in the tower that morning at 9am, but they spoke on the phone that morning and decided it wasn't necessary for him to go in that they could accomplish it over the phone. Great piece!

[The Tao of Bri]

What an incredible juxtoposition huh?! So sad and you did a great job again with bringing the reader into the story as if they are along with you.