9/11 - 11 years later

11 years already

since that day in September

when everything changed 

  oh how I remember

A warm sunny day

 the summer's last kiss

 ended in tears

for those we miss

 as the sky was ripped open

 and the world was awoken,
from a dream to a  nightmare

of “bombs bursting in air”

when Giuliani became

The countries mayor

And police and fireman,

 heroes without compare

Great Britain played our national anthem

in Buckingham square

to remind us we’re not alone

in the grief we all bear

11 years since a nation

turned to God in prayer

and we told all those we love

just how much we care

since vigils and candles

scented the midnight air

and God Bless America

rang from the Capital stairs

since bucket brigades tirelessly worked

beneath the halogen glare

and red, white and blue
blossomed from everywhere

since we forgot about
 “who wants to marry a millionaire”

and we longed for those days

of Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire

     it’s been 11 years

      since our great despair

 when time itself seemed to hang in the air

and the whole world stopped what it was doing 

 ...to stare

 Yet by our hopes and resolve

we will mend and repair     

and give proof through this night
that our flag

                is still there.