A Poem In Seven Days
By Lucille Clifton
Ms. McClure.com
September 11, 2016
1 Tuesday 9/11/01
thunder and lightning and our world
is another place no day
will ever be the same no blood
untouched
they know this storm in other where's
israel ireland palestine
but God has blessed America
we sing
and God has blessed America
to learn that no one is exempt
the world is one all fear
is one all life all death
all one
2 Wednesday 9/12/01
this is not the time
i think
to note the terrorist
inside
who threw the brick
into the mosque
this is not the time
to note
the ones who cursed Gods other name the ones who threatened they would fill the streets
with arab children’s blood
and this is not the time
i think
to ask who is allowed to be
american America
all of us gathered under one flag
praying together safely
warmed by the single love
of the many tongued God
3 Thursday 9/13/01
the firemen
ascend
like jacob’s ladder
into the mouth of
history
4 Friday 9/14/01
some of us know
we have never felt safe
all of us americans
weeping
as some of us have wept
before
is it treason to remember
what have we done
to deserve such villainy
nothing we reassure ourselves
nothing
5 Saturday 9/15/01
i know a man who perished for his faith.
others called him infidel, chased him down
and beat him like a dog. after he died
the world was filled with miracles.
people forgot he was a jew and loved him.
who can know what is intended? who can understand
the gods?
6 Sunday Morning 9/16/01
for bailey
the st. marys river flows
as if nothing has happened
i watch it with my coffee
afraid and sad as are we all
so many ones to hate and i
cursed with long memory
cursed with the desire to understand
have never been good at hating
now this new granddaughter
born into a violent world
as if nothing has happened
and i am consumed with love
for all of it
the everydayness of bravery
of hate of fear of tragedy
of death and birth and hope
true as this river
and especially with love
bailey fredrica clifton goin
for you
7 Monday Sundown 9/17/01
Rosh Hashanah
i bear witness to no thing
more human than hate
i bear witness to no thing
more human than love
apples and honey
apples and honey
what is not lost
is paradise
In Honor And In Remembrance For Those Who Lost Their Lives And Those Who Lost Their Loved Ones On September 11, 2001
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