September 11, 2001
A 9/11 story

It was Tuesday morning
In the inner city school
the children's faces
We're glowing in
black, brown, white
and all colors in between.

We were discussing poetry
and the meaning of things
that make us feel some emotion.
A fire engine bell.
A police siren.
A church bell
on a Sunday morning.

The little girl her bright black face
Embellished with the biggest whitest smile.
Said she always cried at sad music playing.
I think she had poetry in her soul
More so, than anyone in the room.

Then a plane hit the towers
And a second plane.
We heard it
but did not know what it was.
But it made us feel dark
something bad had happened.

Then from the window
the ash filled the sky.
It poured in an endless deluge
Blocking the sun

They looked at me.
I am their teacher
their eyes are what I remember.
Wide open full of fear and questions.

The school warning system
said we were in lockdown.
Lockdown, an unknown thing
when I was in sixth grade.

A boy started crying it's a bomb he cried.
The others started to join him.
their white enlarged eyes
looked at mine for comfort.
And the answers I did not have.

The darkness was folding in the city.
No blue sky.
no trees across the playground.
Just grey dark ash thick as a fog.

What do you feel I asked
Tell me what you feel.
Anger Miss
Fear Miss
Terror Miss
Sad Miss
Lost Miss
Afraid Miss
It went on

We played find someone and hug
To half your fears.
My own fears as large as theirs.
One child asked if we could pray.

Prayers were banned at school now.
But I said does anyone know a prayer.
My little black poetess
Started slowly unsure.
But the others joined in
Even me.

Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep;
If I die before I wake,
I pray for Lord my soul to take. Amen

We stayed in lockdown
until the afternoon.
And shared lunch pails
Worried parents came
to pick up their children.
In the thick ash laden air

They walked out
one by one seeking their
Loved ones in the throng.
A line of tiny ghost.

Four children were left without parents.
They looked into my eyes.
And saw the only answer I had
As the tears flowed down my face