Never Forget And Yet

United we stand, divided we fall. Let us not split into factions which must destroy that union upon which our existence hangs. ~ Patrick Henry

Five minutes in and we are united
holding hands as though a nation of one,
arm-in-arm against the uninvited
in a show of strength against man and gun.

Like pillars of strength, we stand defiant
on the steps of suspicion and mistrust.
Deep wounds afflicted the rising giant.
The mighty have fallen, melted to dust.

A whispering wind, a desolate face,
lips tightly drawn as a violin’s bow,
absence of emotion, self-restrained grace,
and blue eyes hiding what they cannot show.

The pet goat parted from the burning bush
as September spires were raging with flame.
Birds fell from the sky with a zealous push
by the nameless who claimed another’s name.

The unwinged bodies, the down-turned in flight,
the broken bones on a grave slab of stone,
are one-way tickets, the right of the might,
the fluttering leaves of pathos alone.

The fire, the smoke, the ambient motion
sparks the defenses, demands reprisal.
The shocking blow, the turbulent notion
shakes the senses to one of survival.

With the passage of time, the winds disburse.
Heightened emotions are tempered with peace.
Assuaged by justice and the strike in reverse,
there is comfort in the armor’s release.

So we profess and promise to remain
united as one against any threat,
to rise above the petty and profane,
to stay strong and never forget; and yet …

Author's Note

"A house divided cannot stand." ~ Abraham Lincoln

Reviews

[John the Baptist]

The "and yet" is, I think, an indication of the irony of our time. The unity of purpose immediately after 9/11 gave way gradually to the bickering and partisanship of today. There is something to be said for external enemies; they can create a common focus. That's why demagogues strive to make them out of people they hate. Very thoughtful piece of work here.

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

Thank you, John. I had the radio on as I was in the shower this morning, and they were talking about a YouTube influencer, 22 years old, who, while he dropped out of school himself and doesn't have a basic recall of history, feels that he can tell the country how to educate children. I believe he is British. Anyhow, he was harping about how World War II should not be taught in schools because it is bad for children's mental health. OMG! The first thing I thought of was, "Those who don't know the past are doomed to repeat it." Then I thought of our own country and system of education and how history, a lot of important history, isn't taught anymore and things have been dumbed down so much. I thought of 9/11 and how the members of Congress stood on the steps of capital hill as a united front, which lasted for all of five minutes. Now, here we are. Everyone is so divided, driven apart by 15-second soundbites, half-truths, partisan bickering, and lies. All of this done by the media, first and foremost, and the politicians, second. It's disgusting, evil, and amoral, in my opinion. After 9/11 everyone said "Never Forget;" and yet, they already have. We don't need to worry about the Russians or anyone else interfering with our elections and tearing us apart. We are doing a bang up job of that on our own.