I love you

[rachel500]

About this poem: I guess everyone remembers where they were on 9/11.  I was working from home and wandered downstairs to watch a TV show with lunch only to see the news.  The first tower had just been hit.  I watched as the second tower was hit...as they fell.  It was truly one of the most horrifying and compelling moments of my life, yet what really touched me emotionally during the aftermath was the stories of how many had called to say one last goodbye to their loved ones.  This poem was written that week and it was one I needed to write, that knocked on my heart until it was written.

 

He leans back in his chair and
gazes out of the window,
wondering if he has time before
his meeting for a coffee.
He stretches and rises, heading
for the door and pauses;
an unknown instinct screams
at him
to turn
to look.
A steel bird, sunlight
glinting off polished wings
is heading with unstoppable
purpose towards his building.
He dives for cover as his world
shatters around him.
The building trembles, shakes
with the harsh intrusion...
and then there is an eerie silence.
He crawls out from under his desk.
The window has gone and
wind blows through the office.
He shakes now; his eyes streaming see
billowing dark clouds rising.
He walks backwards, his
eyes never leaving the open vista
and reaches for the door.
It's hot.
Too hot.
He pulls his hand away and
glances at the floor.
Smoke like death is creeping
into the room.
He stumbles back to his chair
and collapses into it,
catching sight of the treasured
photo of his family.
He reaches for it, cradles it gently
and picks up the phone.
His breath catches in his throat as
the answering machine tone
resounds down the line...
'Honey,' he says, 'I love you...'