Thursday, September 11, 2008

Our Darkest Day- My 9/11 Tribute

This is a poem I wrote seven years ago today as I watched the events of 9/11 unfold. I'm afraid it's a very raw poem and not very "professional" but it was my heart that day. My heart hurt for those who had so suddenly lost loved ones, hatred took root as I wondered what kind of monsters could be that sick and demented, and fear took hold as I worried if my children were now suddenly in danger.

"Our Darkest Day" was published a year later in the book "911: The Day America Cried". All proceeds benefit the Todd Beamer Foundation & I am proud to say I did not receive a single penny of any of it! :)

Our Darkest Day

Somewhere today a child cries
For a mother who’ll never come home
A wife waiting to hear from her mate
Sits shaking by the phone.

A sister thinks about words she said
And knows she can’t take back
A brother screams out ‘Why us God?!’
As dust settles from the attack

In streets usually alive with bustle
Now silence and sirens are all that’s heard
Families looking for signs of hope
Just waiting for a word.

In the shadows of a tragedy
A nation is mourning from sea to sea
Who could have done such an awful thing?
God, who can this demon be?

So many questions left unanswered
So much pain left to be felt
But as a nation we swear to our dead
That justice will be dealt.

For they may have struck a horrible blow
But they failed to remember one thing
That even on our Darkest Day
The bells of Liberty ring.

Jolene Coiner
9/11/01
© Jolene Coiner Burzycki

36 comments:

Anonymous said...

That is lovely.

Anonymous said...

I remember you sharing this with me before and it still opens the flood gates each time I read it. I don't think the emotions of that time can ever be erased.

Anonymous said...

Nice poem. I still remember sitting at my same desk at work 7 years ago and being told a plane crashed into the WTC. Thought it was an oddity but then another one hit and eventually the Pentagon. Thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

.
That is a beautiful poem that captured the feeling very well, made me cry. Keep writing poetry. Nice tribute. We must not let people forget, and we must never refuse to recognize evil.

:(
.
we will NOT forget
you 9/11 victims
will get justice
.
painful truth -
9/11 should be our
wakeup call
.
get Bin Laden -
we just need big SWAT team
and search warrant

.
absurd thought -
God of the Universe says
there is no good or evil

every thing's relative
don't judge a terrorist

.
All real freedom starts with freedom of speech. Without freedom of speech there can be no real freedom.
.
Philosophy of Liberty Cartoon
.
Help Halt Terrorism Today!
.
We will NEVER forget!


:)
.

Anonymous said...

9/11 is actually my birthday, so these tributes really get to me...

Killlashandra said...

I like they rhyming. :)

I'm glad it got published, it evokes a lot good imagery for people to see.

Marci said...

Wow - how beautiful! Having been a few blocks away on that terribly day seven (really? seven??) years ago, this is especially meaningful to me. Thanks :)

Anonymous said...

It is really a very heart touching. the flow is remarkable and the sorrow that can make even stones cry out! Lets spend sometime praying for those who left this world in 9/11 and in many such incidents like this around the globe. May their soul rest in peace.

Meg_L said...

Hey Girl,

Come over and check out my blog on Saturday morning..

Meg_L said...

oops, meant to say Friday.

Vodka Mom said...

That was amazing. truly amazing.

Anonymous said...

A really touchy one. I was cooking that time when the news broke. Even if we are so far away, my family and I are still very much affected. People from all over the world, watched the tv that time and witnessed horror and pain... I hope it will never happen again...mzuvfa

Anonymous said...

your poem made me cry...

Anonymous said...

this is beautiful poem, it breaks my heart when i remember that day :(

Anonymous said...

Nice tribute. We must not let people forget, and we must never refuse to recognize evil.It was an oddity but then another one hit and eventually the Pentagon. Thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing the beautiful poem.

Unknown said...

Thank you for sharing your great poem.

Karen Bodkin said...

Great poem!
Where are you though?

Anonymous said...

That is lovely. Really you are really so talented. I love to read the poem. Thanks for sharing this in your post with us.

Anonymous said...

I still remember sitting at my same desk at work 7 years ago and being told a plane crashed into the WTC. Thought it was an oddity but then another one hit and eventually the Pentagon.

Vodka Mom said...

omg I fucking love that. I am NOT kidding.


you are something else. bravo.

Laura Roberts said...

The 9/11 was really a tragedy.
The poem you wrote was really touching and lovely. It captured emotions felt during that incident.

Anonymous said...

very nice blog some how i found you looking for things on our sons birth defect esophageal atresia!

Anonymous said...

Firstly thanks for sharing, Secondly you blog design is excellent some blogs have way to much advertising and are hard to read. I wish your site the all the best for the future. That was lovely.

Anonymous said...

Jo, this was a wonderfully written poem, you have a tremendous amount of talent! Congrats on also getting it published!

-Jean

Anonymous said...

the poem is simply lovely and quite emotional.

Kris said...

Hi Jo,
Just thinking of you today and sending you some love and prayers. The poem is so touching.

xoxo,
Kris

Anonymous said...

Very touching! I really can't believe the events that took place on that day. I remember that I was just about to leave for work when I turned on the TV. Those moments forever changed my life and I'll ever forget them. God bless.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing your heartfelt thoughts about that eventful day..

You have just shared what everyone was feeling that time. We call can't forget that.

God Bless You!

Anonymous said...

That was amazing. truly amazing.

Anonymous said...

That was very lovely, great poem. Great tribute.

Anonymous said...

My heart hurt for those who had so suddenly lost loved ones, hatred took root as I wondered what kind of monsters could be that sick and demented, and fear took hold as I worried if my children were now suddenly in danger.

Anonymous said...

Great poem!
Where are you though?

Anonymous said...

Beautiful poem
I hope the victims rest in peace

Balu said...

A highly emotional poem which I love to read again and again

Olivia said...

You're really a true artist for writing. This song is very beautiful and sad. People say to get the best inspiration in the most pain and sorrow.