We will never forget...

Elizabeth

If we do not heal, if we live out our days in fear, if we let pieces of our humanity be eaten away by bitterness and never regenerate, if we wrestle endlessly with 9/11 unresolved in our hearts, then the terrorists have won a victory far greater than the toppling of the towers and the slaying of those lost that day. If we become a nation of open sores, then our enemies will have won a victory that we will never regain no matter how much we retaliate in the physical world. If we are Americans and genuine sons and daughters of liberty, then we must look up and shout, "They may murder some of us in body, but never will they murder our spirits."

A moving poem, Sherry. ~~Nordette

I have stopped writing on the subject. It was a small tragedy in the course of man, sharp and painful, though it was. Ten thousand Americans died in one day in the battle for Iwa Jima. Most of the 15,000 workers in the WTC escaped before the towers fell.

I promise you that there will come a day when we can be open and free again. Once the world learns that there is nothing to fear, that cruise missles won't come in the night, miss their target, and kill the innocent, just like the Eastern Bloc learned that the ICBMs weren't coming and tore the Cold War wall down.

It takes time to heal and move on. I feel far safer in any part of Houston, alone, even with all the Katrina evacuees, than I would as a young man in 1954.

Ron

Your poem is truly a tribute of light we will never forget but we still heal on this tragic day of rememberance. Powerful thank you.

Peace,Joselyn

You effectively describe the resulting backlash of evil deeds, Sherry. Now, many innocent people suffer rejection and labeling. I pray for healing. Thank you for this. Love and peace to you,

Regis

Sherry, I am late reading these... had to have a few days to feel ok enough. your poem really resonates with me. why am I not surprised? thx, Dawn

Well penned. We all feel it. I would offer this advice, though. Look inside your heart and search for God healing will come. It came for those lost in the Twin Towers. I made heros out of those on the one plane that never made it to DC.
God can heal, time will heal. Let's do the greatest tribute to every live lost that day. Let's not stop living.
God Bless,
Lew

you have captured the heart and soul of coping with the aftermath perpetuated by the 9/11 experience ... outstanding work!

btw, last night was my second visit to the blue lights ... they're an awesome and sobering experience ...

(thanx for understanding my last poem)

Beautiful Sherry Well Penned
Hard to forgive

Love & Peace
William

I've been carring these thoughts around with me these last few day and although the anniversary of 9/11 is fresh in our hearts, I have to stop and recall the impact it madfe in my life. I cannoth help but watch in this country how life goes on..even when the horrendous day is not forgotten...but we continue on a path of invincibility while others in war torn countries, as if our own were not, deal with the destruction and ashes daily. No subtle reminders they...but we all live in the continual fear and long for a peaceful world.
Thank you for the poetic reminder...
Taylor

Poignant and so real, Sherry. Whatever the fear, when the anniversary of it comes around we re-enter that time warp and feel the shock and paralysis. Sadly, fear and suspicion is a never-ending cycle whose circles spiral ever inwards unless the viciousness of it is broken. It takes guts and determination to get back in a car if you have only narrowly survived a fatal road accident... it takes a similar determination to overcome this kind of overpowering paranoia if there is to be hope that the earth can ever again become balanced and re-ordered to align with the reasonable majority who desire to live in peace and see the world survive. The repetitions in this write are like a resounding tolling of a funereal bell; and the line "Even laughter, doesn't feel innocent anymore" sums up the loss of inner ease and equilibrium so well. Forgiveness may be only possible for the Divine, but anaesthetising fear HAS to be under our control... somehow!! :)) Keep exorcising the pain. Love and prayers, Kate xx

Wow, this touches to the core of the human soul...Love is always the answer ---

Love & healing, Dove

I understand how you feel, and so many others have this anxiety and unease about our neighbors. I for one could not read the 9/11 poetry, or watch the shows on it. Made me too nervous again. I did that your challenge, and wrote a poem on the spot, but after I wrote it........I could not even read it back.

I used to work for a company that had offices in the WTC, I don't know if they still did........and did not want to.

Even heard familiar names in the death toll memorials........

could not check it out.....

its impossible not to be affected........and be alive


pax A

Heartbreaking offering Sherry!!

Thanks for sharing sis!!

Love Tinka

Don't know that this will help you Sherry...but remember...terrorist are fanatics, whether home grown (Uni-Bomber, McVey, etc) or from other countries. "Fanatics" is the keyword. Did we question the religion of Uni-Bomber or McVey? Should everyone wearing a hooded sweat-shirt, or a burr haircut become suspect? Maybe so, then we'll just have to accept, and live with, that theory.

No, not just another aniversary...it's reliving again and again that fateful day for all of us, I would hope. But still maintaining our faith in most of mankind. Ironically, tonight I will go with friends to eat at a restaurant owned and operated by Muslim friends...they are kind, considerate, caring Americans. I am Catholic, by religion, and they respect me; they are Muslim, by religion, and I respect them.

Peace for you, Sherry - Micke

Heartbreaking read, Sherry; very well penned! Never forget!!

(((HUGS))) and much love, your friend in Tx., Karen Lynn. :( >tears! <

Oh, Sherry! This is P O W E R F U L!!!!!!!!! Fantastic write, we all feel different. We are different.

(((HUGS))) and love, Karla.

Answered your challenge--please read.

Sherry this is a gut wrenching piece done with the eloquence that you possess to make it a superb poem! I feel so torn, because I can understand Jerry's points but I also know Abdi Noor is right that we must not let the terrorists win by becoming shut away and living in fear. I think we must find a way to walk that fine line of being alert to danger, without letting it make us overly suspicious. It isn't easy to do, and I think that is why we need to pray unceasingly for Creator's help in this matter. Bless you my friend and take care! Great photo!...Eileen

Sherry

I concur with Jerry below to the letter..
The public image of our American Arabs does not match with what they really think and believe..
Beware...

Peter

Powerfully penned is right, Sherry, but I think we all should do what we have to do, and that is not to keep showering our enemirs with "love," instead we must come to grips with what they really respect . . . Big Bombs . . . Your Arab neighbors? Americans, you say, and they well may be good Americans, not disputing that, but Islam is a powerful and sometimes violent force, do we really know what they say behind closed doors?

Very powerfully penned, Sherry, but I think we must all somehow try to do what Abdi-Noor suggests, or things will only sadly get much worse.

Sherry:

I can feel your tears and your sorrows. can't believe that it's been 5 years already...how time flies!

I know it is hard for any of us to do, but I'll have to agree with Abdi's comment - allow your soul to heal, don't let the terrorists win.

A gut wrenching, moving, heartfelt write!

Sandie May Angel a.k.a. Sandie Angel

Yes Sherry this poem speaks on behalf of so many both the living and the departed who's lifes were so cruelly robbed of the sanity that once was known as civilization.

Fee

Let your soul heal, Sherry. Keep faith with your friends and neighbors regardles of their religion and spiritual values. Don't let terrorists win their ugly struggle of drawing lines between the hearts of the people.
Abdi-Noor