September has become
the cruelest month
reassembled
Hollywood disasters
at their worst
flipped into reality
as if
we had needed that
as if
we had not known
that life is fragile
and tall buildings
can collapse
taking thousands
to sudden death
what is the point?
to prove
that one can bring
disaster
to the undefended?
to demonstrate
that minds bent
on destruction
can succeed
if they plan long enough?
what a waste
of lives and minds
and more to follow
most likely
does wordless violence
solve anything?
the heartless deed
the glamorous sacrifice
that calls for more
and more
and more
neurotic spirals
of destruction, retaliation
and revenge
instead of global peace
now looms spectral war
born from self-righteous pride
the need to strike out
fast and hard
against whoever fits
intelligence-created data
transferred to screens
meticulously marked
coolly oblivious of the people
who work and procreate
and live
in those fluorescent blips
domesticated energy
serves the omnipotent
two millionaires’ sons
turned public enemies
upon whose final global showdown
depends
the fate of yet more
women
men
and children
to satisfy the need
for a just universe
where power flows
undisturbed by laughter
and the sounds
of real people
living
in a real world
Sep 11, 2021
Sep 11, 2021 at 3:14 AM UTC
September has become
the cruelest month
reassembled
Hollywood disasters
at their worst
flipped into reality
as if
we had needed that
as if
we had not known
that life is fragile
and tall buildings
can collapse
taking thousands
to sudden death
what is the point?
to prove
that one can bring
disaster
to the undefended?
to demonstrate
that minds bent
on destruction
can succeed
if they plan long enough?
what a waste
of lives and minds
and more to follow
most likely
does wordless violence
solve anything?
the heartless deed
the glamorous sacrifice
that calls for more
and more
and more
neurotic spirals
of destruction, retaliation
and revenge
instead of global peace
now looms spectral war
born from self-righteous pride
the need to strike out
fast and hard
against whoever fits
intelligence-created data
transferred to screens
meticulously marked
coolly oblivious of the people
who work and procreate
and live
in those fluorescent blips
domesticated energy
serves the omnipotent
two millionaires’ sons
turned public enemies
upon whose final global showdown
depends
the fate of yet more
women
men
and children
to satisfy the need
for a just universe
where power flows
undisturbed by laughter
and the sounds
of real people
living
in a real world
(Walter Hoelbling, Sept. 20, 2001)
