From the NJN Archives...
Individual Voices

Twin tower shame
by Damon Williams

Word of mouth came from all around
The World Trade Center had just been bombed!
This time the attack was from the air
Not the ground –
Many in offices thought it not true
The news their colleagues brought to view.

WHAT?!
 
Was the resounding shout around the world.
SOME one SAID, turn on the Radio or TV
Hear or see for yourself if you don’t believe.
It was an airplane that did the damage.
Most thought how could anyone lose the handle
And crash into such a giant.
That structure where the entire world had, is, will come to stare.
The icon of prosperity standing strong
On lower Manhattan,
Big and bold glistening … long, way up there …

On what was a beautiful sunny Tuesday morn
Of September, business acumen and women,
With so much going on.
There were people inside the plane,
Innocence …
And more of the same –
Inside the #1 North Tower working unassumingly away…
For business fame or just trying to maintain.

Out of seemingly no where the BLASTING –
Came into our final moments of life
As we all so comfortably knew it.
Evil doers took the controls
Changed a fantastic mode of quick transportation
Into a bomb of utter devastation
Rocked our souls into the bosom of Abraham.

The truth was such; we couldn’t believe it much,
Even with our on eyes.
Some of the people inside the building
Thought it was a true emergency, so they should leave –
Others thought it wasn’t that big a deal, so they should stay
And finish what they darn well please any way.

After all it was a beautiful day
The fire department would come and say
We’ll work on it and everyone will live for another day. 
Besides, the traders where getting into world affairs
There was money to be made –
Much mullah, say hey!

Suddenly out of the blue
Another evil doer came shining through.
The airplane looked the color of black
As it’s fanatic pilot slithered it through with one more attack.
This one aimed at the #2 South Tower
Penetrating like an arrow straight through our hearts

We watched with disbelief
How could someone be so carelessly evil?
To simple honest me –
For what reason?
Someone help me see …
Because the smoke, flames, ash and billowing debris
Is killing everything that’s visibly.

Now I’m scare as can be.
I think the earth; my world is falling in on me.
Those inside the planes
Those in the structures of the Twin Towers of fame
Barely had time to scream their pain.
The airplanes were tuned into bombs
That came and put holds through the windowpanes
Of each one’s eye strains

The mind has trouble computing
Some person’s stooping to the magnitude
Of humanity demised, twisted in fire, steel, concrete
And flesh in an absolute mess
For the ages to assess
 
The terrorists created an eventual implode
From our grandest skyscraper high
To curbside where people were now running and scurrying,
Like why?
Because of that attack from the sky.
DANGER, danger in the air!
FEAR just every where!

Life is confused in a matter of moments.
The blues is all that’s understood
What silence that is which crowds my head?
Even with all the noise that can’t be explained in this crazy edge
Those rumbles with the crumbles of hot steel and lose concrete
That would soon be a solemn spot
Called “GROUND ZERO” and we all wish it not.

I’M STILL SCARED.
People crying with eyes red.
Coughing because they can’t catch their breath
Impossible to inhale because even the air is dead.
DEATH is all around
No one knows what else could come tumbling down.
FIREMEN, POLICEMEN and EMERGENCY workers
want to save the day.
The everyday person wants to stay and do what may.
Journalist, try to do their best,
Objectivity has to be weighed
As we pray for what God has to say.

It’s just hell to pay in this chaotic state
Brought by terrorists during a bright sunny day
On a Tuesday, of September around New York City way
Causing the “Big Apple” to suffer decay.  

Damon Williams