Photo by Karolina Grabowska
The Days of 9.11
The day of 9.11
Secrecy.
Deception.
Violence.
Destruction.
Death.
Chaos.
Ruins.
Innocence lost.
Disbelief.
Confusion.
Trauma.
Desperately needing a friend.
The day after 9.11
Fears confirmed.
Shocked.
Caught off-guard.
Wind knocked out of your lungs.
Rug pulled out from under you.
Tears.
Pain.
Agony.
Heartbroken.
Redefining family.
Re-evaluating history.
Re-envisioning future,
With open, jagged wounds.
Haunting images.
Beyond upset.
Aching.
Anger.
Mental screaming.
Hatred of sin and evil.
Compassion for the victims.
Shaken up lives.
Shattered trust.
Emotional devastation.
In vain, comfort from a friend.
Questions.
No good answers.
More questions.
Difficult, painstaking,
Cleanup begins at the crash site.
The week after 9.11
Mourning.
Speechless.
Crestfallen.
Still.
Numb.
Alone.
Wanting to stay alone.
Withdrawing.
Hiding.
Humiliated.
Helpless.
(Where was God?
Why didn’t He restrain sin?
He let it run its course.
He knew, He watched.)
Disappointment.
Fractured faith.
Confiding in a friend.
The month after 9.11
It wasn’t your fault.
You were innocent.
You didn’t know.
You were a victim.
It was partly my fault.
I didn’t love you enough,
Those precious years,
When I had the chance.
I’m so very sorry.
Entirely his fault.
He didn’t love you at all,
Or, the God of love.
Spiritually blind.
His “truth” was a lie.
Complicit puppet.
Unexpected adversary.
Inexcusable assailant.
Betrayer. Saboteur.
Terrorist. Thief.
Seeds of bitterness.
Avoiding a friend.
Six months after 9.11
Asking for peace.
Hoping for strength.
Emotionally exhausted.
Craving sleep.
Unable to sleep.
Tortured sleep.
“Escape the pain” sleep.
“Not wanting to wake up” sleep.
Working, working, working,
On forgiving. Living.
Listening to a friend.
Slow to heal.
Waiting for a better day.
Searching for hope,
“…Beauty from ashes.” ¹
And, waiting some more.
The year after 9.11
Less pain.
New routines.
Reluctant acceptance.
Some pleasant days.
More authentic smiles.
Receiving kindnesses.
Enjoying a friend.
The dawn of surprise…
Noticing God.
I see Him again!
(He was also waiting…
He never left.)
He is patient.
Good.
Generous.
Tender.
Trustworthy?
Four years after 9.11
Yes… trustworthy.
Evidence of healing,
Feeling alive again.
Practicing gratitude.
Really laughing.
Being a friend.
Rebuilding (informed) faith. ²
Re-writing the future… with hope.
Isaiah 61:3
Hebrews 11:36 – 12:3
© 2017 gratefulsue
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September 9, 2021
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September 11, 2021 marks the 20th anniversary of the al-Qaeda terrorists’ attacks on America, when some of their members hijacked four U.S. passenger planes. This resulted in the loss of life of 2,996 people: 265 people on the planes (including the 19 hijackers), 2,606 people in the World Trade Center and surrounding area, and 125 people at the Pentagon. Thousands of others on the ground were injured. These totals would have been even higher, if not for the heroic actions of some of the passengers of United flight 93, who overpowered the hijackers and were able to divert the plane from the probable target of the U. S. Capitol or White House. The magnitude of the impact of this coordinated assault on the physical safety and emotional health of every American cannot be overstated. While it remains a devastating blow, it is not the end of the story.
The Days of 9.11 represents how someone might react to the news, if he or she lost a loved one (or loved ones) in the attacks. Besides the overt reference to the terrorist attacks on 9.11.2001, the poem can also represent any personal catastrophe, abuse, or trauma, and describe how one might process it over a long period of time, emotionally, relationally, and spiritually. Although not everyone reacts to trauma in the same way, healing after trauma is definitely attainable. It is normal for healing to require time, support from one’s friends and/or faith, and intentional work.