A Certain Killing

09 11 Survivor Guilt

This hot blood rain of shame
needs rainbows of blinding sun
to assuage the guilt I feel
and the damage that’s been done
I smell of danger and of blood
but somehow angel’s wings enfold me
I forget the lies my parents told me
and pray for kinder Gods above

There must be reasons
I am not condemned to die
small clues of innocence
still lurking in my breast
with sleight of hand time claims my lies
and turns them into truth
time bankrupts me
and steals my fervent youth

I’ll fold into myself
as I grow older
my days becoming shorter
my nights becoming colder
but still I’ll place my bets on life
and watch while time
throws loaded dice
and makes a certain killing

Author's Note

At the risk of raising my good friend Michael’s ire at another ‘bummer’, I am going to go ahead and post this. It was written the 09/11/2001: so I am sure that you will recognize the enormity of the event that brought this humble poem into being.

Reviews

[Doug]

Wow, that is such a great poem. I am lucky enough to not remember 9/11, I was too young then, but still, this poem gets to me. Good work.