It has been 13 ye
ars since the terror attacks of 9/11 on New York City and Washington D.C. which shook our nation, and the world, to its core. Some children today were not even born when these tragedies occurred. The rest of us all have our own personal account of that day because the memories are still so stark and profound in our consciousness.
I find that September 11th and Hurricane Sandy are two events that are difficult for me to write about, and I can write about nearly any subject. I attribute this difficulty to the personal impact that both events had on my life. I also feel that words cannot adequately express the multiple layers of emotions emoted by those two tragic events.
I wrote a short post here on Frank’s Forum last year on the anniversary of the attacks which was focused on the remembrance of those victims who lost their lives, their families, and the firemen and first responders for their brave service. Those sentiments all certainly still remain, and will always remain a part of this day for me. I also continue to focus on living my life and directing my work in honor of those who died so tragically that terrible day.
I have had some time for reflection today, and over the years I have come to find that through even the darkest of times there is light which shines and goodness which comes to the forefront. I found that in the testimonials of those who survived the terror attacks who were helped by total strangers that day. I have witnessed it in my own community after Hurricane Sandy struck the Jersey Shore. People I had never met helped my wife and I as we struggled with that terrible circumstance. That is the light of the human soul that we need to focus on today and in the days ahead.
The darkness seems to be upon us again with ISIS and terrorist activity in Africa as well as a war in Ukraine. It seems like history again repeating itself, but we can change that narrative. We can change that narrative into one of hope, peace, and love for one another that will, in the end, be the light that shines through all the darkness of the human condition.
I mentioned earlier that I have a hard time with expressing my thoughts on 9/11 because the event so profoundly shocked, saddened, angered, and hurt me. The best way I could think to share some of those emotions is through my creative work, through some poetry I wrote about that tragic day and the days since.
“The Towers Fell”
This one tragic day in September It started with a bright cloudless sky
It’s a day I’ll always remember Later that morning, three thousand people would die
I remember being truly frightened
They attacked our home, it happened so fast
Now many years have come and passed
For the victims, their families, life hasn’t brightened
All over the globe was a shockwave
The stock market ceased trading for days
Our lives were in a vacuum in many ways
I wish more lives that day God could save
The towers fell, which lead to a war
Our days will never be the same as before
For those who that day lost their lives I pray for their families, their husbands, and wives.
“Across the Bay”
My wife and I were in Union Beach today
She took pictures, we looked across the Bay In the distance the Manhattan skyline
We could see the rising new Freedom Tower
Though this town is far from fine Talking with people here – they’re sour
About the slow rebuilding after the storm
Six months after Sandy’s powerful wrath
It doesn’t help that the weather isn’t warm
Though the people trust the Lord’s path
I wish there was something I could say
To help alleviate their pain, anger, fear
I say this to my wife and we looked across the Bay
I knew how lucky I was for all I hold so dear
“America No More”
You know what scares me?
It’s if America ceased to be
If I lost all of my freedom
If I lost all of my liberty
Someone told me when I could go and come
That is what truly scares me
If I couldn’t say what I feel
If I couldn’t offer God praise
If I was stripped of the American ideal
I would exist as if in a haze
If someone told me what I had to write
If I was told what I had to believe
I would rather just lose my sight
The loss of beloved America is more than I can conceive
“Sky Fall”
In the blue sky that fateful morning
It all came crashing down with no warning
Lives ended, innocence trampled, hope lost
Evil pervasive, good extinguished, society tossed –
Upside down, backwards, the towers collapsed
The entire world, everywhere, collectively gasped
Earlier that morning from the sky would fall –
My Dad throwing to me a white baseball
I was supposed to that day get on a flight
My Dad had a feeling something wasn’t right
The night before I had a bad feeling too
Throughout the morning that feeling grew
Though what happened I never anticipated
Instantly so much shock, sadness was created
My Grandpa was on a plane somewhere that day
From the sky it did fall safely landing in Raleigh
So many lives cut short, so many months of fear
Why are they gone and I’m still here?
So much rain like tears from the sky fall
So much has changed, yet nothing changed at all
From the sky will fall rays of the Sun
To show us all our journey has just begun
“Darkness Then Light”
Evil comes in all of its darkness
Hatred for those they’ve never met
An unspeakable act of destruction
Shattering the lives of so many at once
My mind cannot comprehend it
I wake up some days, think it’s –
A nightmare that it never occurred
Then I feel the warmth of the Sun
The light fills up the room
I realize that good will prevail
I rise to take advantage
Of the blessed gift of life
I move forward to honor those lost
I have time they did not receive
I have an obligation to do right
To love and serve all others
To inspire and to live in the light
The light of a blessed new day
“Imbued”
Seeking solace where there’s none
Another days’ battles lost and won
Emboldened by success to build
For tomorrows’ challenges fulfilled
By the small measures taken –
By man. Your confidence unshaken
Imbued and not ever feeling dismayed
From your core principles you’re unswayed
Stay the course against the shifts in tide
Your fears and worries will subside
The world is there to devour
But it’s also there for you to scour
To find the pathway best suited
Not become undermined or polluted
To face the days whether gloomy or bright
To move forward further to the light
Embarking constantly on new avenues
Knowing your faith guides what you choose
Seeking the way to find your success
Imbued with hope and willing to accept nothing less
“Glory Be”
Glory be the Father, the Son
The Holy Spirit – Blessed Trinity
His love for us has just begun
His love will live for infinity
He created the Earth and the Moon
He created the glorious Heaven
But nobody wants to get there soon
Jesus took bread with no leaven
He blessed and broke it for all
He took the cup of wine – “My blood”
He carried the Cross, three times to fall
His death, sorrow over the world did flood
Victory over sin and death we believe
Eternal life, through Christ, we receive
We will never forget the lives lost on September 11th or in the terror attacks throughout the world since then. God bless all of you.
(Copyright 2014- Frank J. Maduri – all rights reserved. Image of NY is copyrighted image all rights reserved. No copying or redistribution of this material without express written consent from the author)
