9/11 And The Aftermath Through Poetry

have been looking at the ways our nation has been touched by the 9/11 attacks and the decade which has followed.

We've asked you to share your thoughts and perspective. Creve Coeur Patch reader Barb Poposky sent us a series of poems she wrote in the aftermath of that tragic day.

In an email to Patch, she described one of them entitled, "Heroes All Around," written in the fall of 2001, including "examples of the individual acts of courage and heroism and assistance that occured on that Day and in the days that followed..."

Heroes All Around

Heroes all around.

Waking up, getting ready, the everyday routine.

Pushing onward, beat the timeclock, queuing at Starbucks for just one more cup of java.

Driving the taxi, flipping the door sign from "Closed" to "Open."

Scritching the day's lesson on the board, giggling with best friends.

Washing dishes and changing diapers and starting laundry and grocery shopping...

Keeping America informed and interviewing guests, preparing Sunday's sermon.

Comforting a first-timer in labor's throes, serving ham and eggs with a smile.

Boarding business first class coach, going over notes for clients' meetings today.

Pushing brooms, rolling hoses, shining windows, pulling traffic duty.

Wide awake, the workday hums, the everyday routine.

Heroes all around.

Heroes all around.

September 11, 2001: "Today our nation saw evil."

For all walks of life, from all kinds of jobs, time suspended, sickeningly standing still.

Staring upward while shading eyes, not believing the deliberateness evident.

Gathering in shock-silenced groups around any available tv radio internet connection.

Neighbors calling "Have you got the news on?". Families rushing together.

First responders to the scenes selflessly entering into the terror, no one gets left behind.

Air traffic scrambling "land all planes!" making sure all are accounted.

Decision-making in the best interests of the children, continuing classes or not.

Realizing today is going to end badly, marshalling all strength and resource.

September 11, 2001: "We responded with the best of America."

Heroes all around.

Heroes all around.

Testifying to American spirit, heroism in everyman.

Firefighters climbing ever higher, encouraging calm to those staircasing down.

Nurses and aides readying any available bed, doctors donning masks gloves gowns.

Employers co-workers counting heads, checking names --- "Have we gotten everyone out?"

Previously unacquainted creating slings of arms to carry to safety the injured the distraught.

Shopkeepers' hands reaching through dusty collapse offering refuge water wetted cloths.

Arms, hearts growing larger than terror itself: teachers shielding, consoling, attempting to explain

The unexplainable to children, praying for unknown victims Rescue Heroes peace.

"Please tell my wife I love her --- You ready? OK, let's roll!"

Responding to America's crisis, heroism in everyman.

Heroes all around.

HEROES ALL AROUND.

Living somewhere inside each and every one.

Standing in line for hours, rolling up sleeves, donating blood.

Turning off tv's to shield toddlers from the new millenium's Day of Infamy.

Leaders stumbling in rubble, strong in role while shedding tears in grief and shock.

Restaurants offering laden pantries, stores sharing any necessary item.

Utilizing expertise for situations that never should have been expected to happen.

Faith awakening, praying, seeking the unanswerable, absorbing anger and mourning.

Search and Rescue teams, military, digging for fallen comrades victims --- no stone unturned.

Letter-writing condolence hope gratitude, candle lighting, hugging, sharing tears.

Rallying in courage, in sacrifice, in determination.

HEROES ALL AROUND.

---Barb Poposky ---

::: Quotes Stanza #2: President George W. Bush, Address to the Nation, 9/11/2001

:::Quote Stanza #3: Todd Beamer, passenger on Flight 93, on airphone with operator Lisa Jefferson