Remembering Those

As I do each year, I am posting the following poem that I wrote for the first anniversary of the attack. It's not a time to cast blame on who may or may not have been able to prevent the horrendous attrocities that occurred six years ago. It is simply a time to remember and to make sure no one forgets...

Rembering Those

Without politicizing,
Or placing blame;
Without criticizing the actions of government.
I'd like to remember those.

I'd like to remember those,
On the planes that were hijacked,
And the fear that gripped their souls,
And the pain in their heart,
Knowing that they would never see their loved ones again.

I'd like to remember those,
Who looked out their office windows,
Expecting to gaze upon the blue of the sky;
Who instead saw the planes coming,
And had nowhere to run.

I'd like to remember those,
Who jumped from windows,
Choosing a quick and instant death,
Over the pain of flames licking their bodies,
And burning them alive.

I'd like to remember those,
Who were crushed to death by falling debris.
And those who were buried alive,
And died slowly,
As hope of their rescue flickered out.

I'd like to remember those,
Known and unknown,
Who disregarded their own personal safety and drive to survive,
And instead ran into the flames and falling debris,
To save the lives of others.

I'd like to remember those,
Who simply stayed,
So a fellow worker,
Who couldn't escape,
Wouldn't die alone.

I'd like to remember those,
Who took down their own plane,
To save the lives of unknown others.

While I know not a single name,
Of victim or hero,
I'd like to remember those.

And only those.

For just this moment.