5 of 106

Write now Article Tools

After the Leveling of the
Twin Towers on 11 September 2001

Rumors flew in the mailroom as I stood
hearing of two planes flown into the World
Trade Towers, flown into the mercantile
symbol of the world-acts of terrorists.
"Tell me which airline," I cried. "My brother
works for United." They said, "This is war."

Blaring from TV and radio-"War,
this is an act of war"-the frank words stood

against a horrifying act. Brother
of Islam performed Jihad against a world,
a world not their own. Young sons, terrorists,
sacrifice their lives against mercantile

concerns. "Allah, protect us from mercantile
nations. Allah, strengthen our arms for war."
I wonder how these young men, terrorists,
could justify killing us. So I stood,
numb, that nineteen young men could steal my world,
my peace. I wail, "Are you not my brother?"

The towers collapse as somebody's brother
leaps from eighty floors. How could mercantile
business concern us as this crumbling world
destroys? Smoke, glass, dust covers ... scenes of war ...
covers Lower Manhattan. Many stood
watching them implode. They cheer, terrorists,

claiming the dragon's death. The terrorists
forget we also have mother, brother,
sister, wife, husband, child. We ate, slept, stood
as they did-no monsters here. Mercantile
corporations provide needs. Yet if war
is what they want, we will search the whole world

to discover their holes. Searching the world,
we will exterminate the terrorists.
"One Nation Under God" howls for the war
which would pit Christians against Brother
Islam. Towers, symbols of a mercantile
world, were destroyed, but freedom still stood.

The world's a wasteland, smashed by a brother-
a terrorist brotherhood. Mercantile
interests demand war. In the mailroom, I stood.

Learn more about this author, Cyn Bagley.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Poetry: September 11, 2001 ?
We want to hear your view. Write now!