09/11/2001

This narrative poem reflects the final moments of 09/11 from a soul’s perspective—moving from terror to clarity and finally to peace.

With a rumbling, roaring,
Swishing, sound
Cloaked in pyroclastic cloud,
I eternally free-fall
In a slowly grinding tumble
Rushing swiftly toward the ground.

The plummet I recall,
Or did the ground rush up
And catch my fall?
The skyline's gone; sunlight's past.
Strange, this darkness—
Abrupt—so fast.

As in a dream, yet far, far more
A voice calls, “Follow me and rest."
I feel no pain, but cannot move.
Time has stopped.
In sudden darkness.

I dream of light.
I hear a sound—
They’ve finally come!
At last, I am found.

A man breaks in. He lights my face.
I hear his words—but cannot see.
Strange. His words. They set me free.
The words he said—“Died instantly.”

Then peace subdues my inner fear.
I’ve finally met my end.
I see so very clearly now.
My family and my friends.

I call out to them,
But they can’t hear.
I wish that they could know.
I’m holding them as best I can
All so very near.

I now know we’ll never part—
For now, I understand—
Something I did not before—
That God does have a plan.

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