"To pay attention, this is our endless and proper work."
-Mary Oliver-
Two roses for two towers
Across the street at the thirteenth Precinct
a permanent memorial
A piece of the towers, photographs of lost first responders,
and floral tribute
It's one of those moments...just listen if you can
I was there (here) that day. I had the only working land line so welcomed people who needed to reach other people, and walked to friends in need, bringing water, matches and batteries, as much light as I could spare, in a trance, in a trance, in shock. But now, now that commercial interests own it all, all except for the broken hearts, I still see the flying forms that fell away from the impossible fire into the empty future, and the streams of forms moving uptown in the darkness covered in toxic dust. I love the beings who rushed to help and those who needed them.
~*~
Photograph from September 11
They jumped from the burning floors—
one, two, a few more,
higher, lower.
I love this Fall day still....still I listen in stillness,
and remember:
http://www.pen.org/book/don-
~*~
Two roses for two towers
a permanent memorial
and floral tribute
I was there (here) that day. I had the only working land line so welcomed people who needed to reach other people, and walked to friends in need, bringing water, matches and batteries, as much light as I could spare, in a trance, in a trance, in shock. But now, now that commercial interests own it all, all except for the broken hearts, I still see the flying forms that fell away from the impossible fire into the empty future, and the streams of forms moving uptown in the darkness covered in toxic dust. I love the beings who rushed to help and those who needed them.
~*~
Photograph from September 11
They jumped from the burning floors—
one, two, a few more,
higher, lower.
The photograph halted them in life,
and now keeps them
above the earth toward the earth.
Each is still complete,
with a particular face
and blood well hidden.
There’s enough time
for hair to come loose,
for keys and coins
to fall from pockets.
They’re still within the air’s reach,
within the compass of places
that have just now opened.
I can do only two things for them—
describe this flight
and not add a last line.
Wisława Szymborska-
(translated by Clare Cavanagh and Stanislaw Baranczak)
~*~ and now keeps them
above the earth toward the earth.
Each is still complete,
with a particular face
and blood well hidden.
There’s enough time
for hair to come loose,
for keys and coins
to fall from pockets.
They’re still within the air’s reach,
within the compass of places
that have just now opened.
I can do only two things for them—
describe this flight
and not add a last line.
Wisława Szymborska-
(translated by Clare Cavanagh and Stanislaw Baranczak)
I love this Fall day still....still I listen in stillness,
and remember:
http://www.pen.org/book/don-
~*~
1 comment:
beautiful response
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