"I've seen the lights go out on Broadway, I saw the Empire State laid low…"

by Katie Gomez on September 11, 2009

in 9-11

Image by Rob Beilby

Image by Bob Beilby

I’m not exactly one for resting on my laurels, but given that this was first posted just after this blog began, on September 11 of last year, I thought it worth revisiting, lest we ever, ever forget:

Tuesday’s sunshine dancing on the beggar’s dirty face,
passing steam-riddled blacktop, cracked backs and wailing.
Bakers and fishmongers, smell of a city waking,
bootleg vendors on cold street corners.
Two great arms outstretched, yawning,
kitchen prep work over boom box radios and
Spanglish conversations,
delivery trucks, squealing brakes,
curses spat at taxi drivers.
Coffee shop wi-fi, pigeons startled by a horn blast,
lithe blonde adjusts her skirt in an alley.
Don’t clean my windshield, pull up my window, lock my door,
green light freedom leaves him in exhaust fumes.
Sanitation noise and elevator silence,
Howard Stern broadcast over big apple airwaves,
pretzel pushcart declaring its slab of real estate
on Washington Square.
Headshop on Waverly, agency on Fifth,
laundromat on Delancy, theater off Broadway,
raising their eyes to a sky
that went from blue to gray.
We will have no strangers among us today.
The phoenix rises from its ashes,
no matter how great the pile,
and so we will raise a first glass in remembrance,
and then a second in reverence.

{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }

1 RJ Flamingo September 11, 2009

Vivid imagery – beautiful and touching, love.

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2 Elle September 11, 2009

Beautiful post. I’ll never forget that day.

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3 Mark September 11, 2009

Speechless.

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4 ILEANA September 11, 2009

Never forget
Today is a date for all to remember and pray.
Love
Ile

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5 castello September 11, 2009

Thanks, that was very nice.

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6 The Wine Commonsewer September 11, 2009

Excellent.

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7 The Wine Commonsewer September 11, 2009

linked on Facebook.

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8 Katie Pizzuto September 11, 2009

Many thanks to everyone. This day is always an emotional roller coaster ride for me. Rock on.

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9 Milton Waddams September 12, 2009

Reverence.

Reply

10 Phil Anderson October 6, 2009

…and life went on beyond the palisades…

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