9/11/02

not like me
those others
dying by the tens of thousands
every day
but of natural causes

like no food, no justice, no peace

our day came
on a clear morning
our thin shell cracked
our gods of green and gun
caught in all their deaf and dumb glory

those others say prayers for us
knowing loss
we tend our wounds and wounded
honoring the lost
rebuilding our altars

we repent of our negligence
give a sacrifice of blood
visit hell on our enemy
offer up our young

eyes burning in tears and anger
we ponder how it could have been
me ground into dust
my loved one a billowing cloud
chasing me, choking me into darkness

but for others
tens of thousands daily dying
our hearts are stone
like our gods we remain
deaf and dumb