The Wings Above St. Stephen's

eThe Wings at St. Stephen’sf

 

Remembering a Young Woman

Who Died on September 11, 2001

 

At the World Trade Center

In Manhattan, New York City,

 

The Sullenness of Her Mourners,

And the Flight of a Red-Tailed  Hawk

That you appear at this most dismal hour,

In which the benediction has been done,

When all are wearied by the service long,

And that last hymn in sadness has begun,

Suggests that you would exercise a right

To soar in rapture with the mind on high

That lowers every head in solemn pause

But demonstrates life’s glory in the sky

 

That you imbue a bleak and empty place

In which all wings defer unto your flight,

When we are bent in sorrow and in tears;

And, in one bare expression, suffer light,

Attests that you have risen on a chance

To symbolize that sovereignty and will

Within all bold, sublime, and holy acts

That have a cause of heaven to fulfill.

 

Reviews

[DIVYA]

When I read you, I marvel at your ability to evoke such emotion in the reader for whatever the subject of the poem. This a a very solemn poem and fills me with awe of the greater scheme and will of God. When our backs are broken with grief and our basic and core values are threatened, the red tailed hawk symbolizes to me a signal from heaven that sovereignty and all goodwill and good acts will ultimately prevail in the face of evil. Inspite of the passage of all these years, September 11, 2001 continues to be a weeping wound for the world and I express my deepest respects and condolences for those who passed on that unfortunate day.

[Paris Hlad]

You are certain to already know, Divya, that justice in the physical world is an empty concept, which is not to say that justice in and of itself is without meaning or resonance in places that are other than here. People like yourself, recognize or at least sense that justice matters or that things such as kindness, mercy, or moments of happiness matter - But how do they matter here, wherein whatever manifestation they arise seem to be something less than kindness, mercy, etc.? I believe that you are a truth-seeker, a person who, like myself, cannot put their finger on why exactly the truth is so important.

As some of your poems suggest, it's really all about the intuitive sense that you have about things: You're damn sure its correct, and yet you must struggle even to put it into words - Or even more difficult, ACTIONS.

[DIVYA]

I agree with you. Now that you say it, I realize I do get enraged at falsities and perceived injustice, perhaps more than I should be. In the process, get labelled a rebel. Indeed, most difficult to act on our intuition as there is also something called doubt.

[DIVYA]

"justice in the physical world is an empty concept"
Yes, I agree and I feel very sad.