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Tuesday, September 11, 2012

September Blue

A Blue Sky by Jiri Hodan


There’s nothing like 
A September blue sky, 
Crisp air magnifying brilliance,
A hue more artist’s brush than nature‘s hand.  

Jet trails weave their way 
Through the September blue,
Ferrying travelers 
To places far removed 
From my prairie home, 
The distant sound of engines humming
In the background of my life.  

On a day like this, 
My mind can’t help 
But take a journey of its own, 
Back to that tragic Tuesday 
When the jet trails disappeared, 
A September blue so deep 
It seemed a mournful world 
Had a direct line to the heavens 
To make anguished grief heard. 
The panic, the anger, the fear, 
The uncertainty of the day 
Cast a cloud in my heart
Until a familiar noise arose,  
The drone of jet engines 
Echoing across the land, 
Air Force One 
Escorted by a squadron of steel angels 
Winging their way eastward, 
A trail of hope floating 
Through the September blue 
Reminding us that 
United we stand,
United we rebuild, 
United we survive.

~~~ This poem was written for my prompt over at Poetry Jam this week asking to capture a moment in time.  Seeing Air Force One fly overhead on its way back to Washington, D.C. after the terrorist attacks of September 11 was one moment I know will live in my mind forever.

14 comments:

Christine said...

I was sending my kids off onto the bus, but before they went we prayed at the door, I knew our world changed forever that day.

Sherry Blue Sky said...

A memorable poem about a momentous day. You recaptured it so well. The sky did seem extra blue that day.

Sreeja said...

This is so full.....something to keep in mind always...

Brian Miller said...

your closure on this is truth...it is only united we get through these things...and only united we move forward.....in the eleven years since we seem to have lost a bit of that...

Mary said...

Wow, to actually SEE Air Force One flying over must have been amazing. You captured the MOMENT well!

Love these words:

"United we stand,
United we rebuild,
United we survive."


Daydreamertoo said...

I don't think anyone old enough to know about this can ever or, will ever forget where they were and what they were doing. Such a horrific event. Of which I hope will never be repeated. Yes, many lives were forever changed.
Deeply touching Mary.

Laurie Kolp said...

A sad day indeed. Great piece.

Anonymous said...

A sad moment remembered but you expressed it very well! I love the way you ended it! Unity... a strong word!

Serena said...

I like how your memory of a sad and terrifying event is couched in the positive uplifting message of your poem. I think it's so important to remember that the good triumphs over the bad... or at least we can continue to work to make sure it does.

United we stand,
United we rebuild,
United we survive.

I really appreciated your prompt this week. It was just what I needed.

Sharp Little Pencil said...

You bring a sense of coming together while depicting a tragedy that left the US with a case of national PTSD. The "trail of hope," and your final stanza... well, I wish it were so. You remind us, and yet we remain fractured by the fear and doubt instilled by the man who was in Air Force One. Just my thoughts, hope I don't put a damper on things. Peace, Amy
http://sharplittlepencil.com/2012/09/05/nurse-in-the-field-afghanistan/

my heart's love songs said...

your last three lines gave me shivers, Mary ~ united is the only way we will survive.

thank you for the prompt and for sharing your memories of that "moment."

Anonymous said...

Excellent closure!! Perfectly true words.

Helen said...

Considering what's happening in the world right now ... united is our only hope. Thank you for writing this!

Susan said...

um mm mm

Nicely done with presence and absence and renewed presence in blue. Unity.