Images - a ten year vigil
Posted by Rob Kistner | Filed under Free Verse, Poetry, courage, dark, dark drama, homage, horror, introspection, love, memories, photo, prayer, regret, tragedy, wisdom
unfathomable images
the graceful glide
engulfed by the spire
in a roar of golden orange
horribly beautiful
perversely mesmerizing
obscene
devastating images
torrents of humanity
raining down
desperation their only escape
masses of humanity
racing
to outrun the unbelievable
praying
to be delivered from the inconceivable
traumatic images
shrines of free commerce
consumed
by the unbearable weight
of their fragile significance
plummeting to earth
in a cloud of self-destruction
heartbreaking images
screaming
dazed
terrified souls
consumed
by the unbearable weight of the moment
staggering onward
to outdistance the surging roll
of all-engulfing
pulverized aftermath
courageous images
battered
determined
tireless heroes
those who were called
who served unselfishly
some
who gave the ultimate service
haunting images
color
gender
ethnicity
wiped away
from the ashen-grey faces
of the traumatized throngs
now just masks of calamity
all made equal
by horror and grief
one nation
under siege
inconsolable
with tragedy and sorrow
for all
unforgettable images
burned into our hearts
September 11th, 2009 at 6:25 pm
We were both on the same wavelength, weren’t we? Your poem is beautiful…and the photo is stunning! Your words spoke volumes.
September 12th, 2009 at 3:11 am
Beautiful photograph and a very moving poem.
We all shared in your grief on that terrible day.
Dominus vobiscum
September 12th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
nicely done… “lest we forget” is on my mothers stone on her grave….1946….sept 11 also reminds me of Chile on that date and the overthrow of Allende….
September 12th, 2009 at 9:13 pm
I know your country is not mine. But I will never forget this horrible day. Watching stunned on the T.V. and knowing thatit was going to change the world forever.
September 13th, 2009 at 11:29 am
Brilliant, moving.
September 13th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
This poem was cleansing in an unsual way. You said it for everyone.
b
September 17th, 2009 at 9:38 am
Unforgettable images tattooed in our hearts, amen!
October 10th, 2009 at 6:03 am
a most excellent poem - you emotions,
thoughts, creativity carefully rendered
to encompass this unspeakable moment.
November 5th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
Hi:
Love the work!
I follow your blog and ask that you consider following mine at http://violentcontradiction.blogspot.com/
There is a Networked Blog box to follow it on the blog.
Kindly,
Paul A. Toth
September 11th, 2011 at 12:05 pm
‘..racing
to outrun the unbelievable
praying
to be delivered from the inconceivable’
Your words captured the remembered images and emotions so well. Thank you for sharing this.
September 11th, 2011 at 12:13 pm
this is a very efficient poem - affecting and targeted - conscise and clear.
you have written a fine piece worthy of the occasion and subject
September 11th, 2011 at 1:04 pm
i could pretty much feel the sweat and grit of that day in this…raining torrents of humans…that is where you caught me…really well written rob…
September 11th, 2011 at 2:03 pm
Well, it was your turn, sir.
I woke up today and wanted
to write something worthy of
the ten year anniversary, and
lo I find you have already done
it for me. All I came up with a
bloated haiku, aptly titled:
JUST THE IMAGE WILL.
I love letting you do the
heavy lifting.
September 11th, 2011 at 2:56 pm
I love your haiku Glenn, and its pure simplicity speaks volumes to the heart.
This bit of verse I offer here I actually wrote on the occasion of the 8th vigil, on 9/11/2009. I tried in vain to write something I felt more apt for today’s 10th — instead, I decided to reprise this piece, because it speaks so clearly to the horror that still stirs in my heart, and in nightmares from time to time, when remembering that tragedy…
September 11th, 2011 at 3:41 pm
This is such a wonderful poem for this day. This is a day the world stood still and watched in shock and could not believe it was real. it was almost a movie right out of Hollywood this day but it was not Hollywood that this happened it was real and hard to understand why
http://gatelesspassage.com/2011/09/11/the-sorrow-of-our-times/
September 11th, 2011 at 4:28 pm
We’ll never ever forget.
September 11th, 2011 at 4:51 pm
unforgettable images in our heart….we will remember…always.
September 11th, 2011 at 5:06 pm
Poignant tribute.
September 11th, 2011 at 5:31 pm
Nicely built column of images. I don’t know why anyone should feel under siege, though.
September 11th, 2011 at 6:31 pm
The form and pace of your poem conveys the sense of falling, the tragedy. A fitting tribute.
September 11th, 2011 at 9:34 pm
Beautifully done.
— K
Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie’s Guide to Adventurous Travel
September 12th, 2011 at 2:15 am
Tragedy befalls the innocent. Is it the last? Is there a remedy?
September 12th, 2011 at 2:27 am
Why should anyone feel under siege Mark, well besides the tragedy of 911, to which I directly referred; we are under siege in the USA 24/7 — from BIG oil, from mindless TV, from soulless advertising, from the parasitical drug companies, from usurious credit card and banking companies, from irresponsible fast food companies, from an army of unscrupulous big business entities, from pollution, from urban overcrowding, from poverty, from manipulative politicians, etc. etc. …
September 12th, 2011 at 2:45 am
The innocent fall victim to the evil element Jackie, perhaps because they find it difficult to believe there can be such a malicious nature…
September 12th, 2011 at 8:04 am
You have captured the tragedy very well… we can only move forward.. with prayers on our lips..
September 12th, 2011 at 9:11 am
Delicately yet powerfully written..Jae
September 12th, 2011 at 5:37 pm
If we were standing face to face, I’d silently salute you for your words, and we’d nod. Knowing the words that were between unseen and unsaid and still known. Thank you for this poem.
September 12th, 2011 at 5:52 pm
Dear Rob; Love how you used the extreme compare and contrast and these lines being etched into my heart as well;
one nation
under siege
inconsolable
with tragedy and sorrow
for all
A fitting memorial filled with dictomy’s pathos.
September 12th, 2011 at 5:57 pm
You are most welcome Shanyn — salute…!
September 12th, 2011 at 7:28 pm
Yes, tragedy has a way of equalizing, doesn’t it? My favorite part of your work: “color
gender
ethnicity
wiped away
from the ashen-grey faces
of the traumatized throngs
now just masks of calamity
all made equal
by horror and grief”
September 13th, 2011 at 8:38 am
Beautifully and horrifyingly captured emotions, Rob. Thanks for stopping by my little blog and leaving a quick 160. Always nice to run into another Portlander.
September 13th, 2011 at 9:01 pm
one nation
under siege
inconsolable
with tragedy and sorrow
for all
WOW. You nailed it there. It was such a horrible, horrible day.
September 14th, 2011 at 11:47 am
Powerful write, Rob…especially poignant is “horribly beautiful”…