This photograph was taken by Owen Franken ~ The World Trade Center Plaza in 1986
New York City
2015
Not knowing what to expect
we stand in line and wait.
Sunshine Saturday
people with purpose
enter the modern steel and glass structure.
Escalator takes us down
a hush falls
eyes open wide
the wait over;
life as we know it will again change forever.
NO DAY SHALL ERASE YOU FROM THE MEMORY OF TIME
An amazing museum has been built with love and honor and respect
So we don’t forget.
Huge beams twisted
Walls pushed back
The weight of the world
captured
in images
in person
Touching, telling, overwhelming
Phone messages replayed
Morning show video clips
News anchors in shock
Notes, shoes, clothes, photographs
Fire engines
Survivors stairs
Stories recalled
Timelines put it all together for us
Every single person I pass has folded their arms across their chests
Eyes tearing up
emotions no longer guarded
young and old
we grieve
we cry
We read about the heroes;
those that pressed on
pushed forward,
ran back in
and we will never forget
Stepping into the daylight
we pause at the reflecting pools
Waterfalls of peaceful power
I am so proud of my fellow Americans
We are such a strong country
We are an unyielding mass of humankind
We are
We will remain
We are one
They believed this would crush our spirit
It unified our country
We stand together
This I will never forget
