This article was first published in The Small Business Advocate NEWSLETTER, Volume II, Issue 45, September 17, 2001, the first edition following the terrorist attacks of 9-11.
The NEWSLETTER is different this week from past editions. This week is different from past weeks.
For days now, I’ve wanted to talk with you. I considered a mid-week edition. Uncharacteristically, I just couldn’t get the words down.
Only once before did my normal prosaic method fail me. Not being a poet – not wishing to be a poet – at first I didn’t understand that my thoughts would only come out in verse. But the return key proved stronger than the word wrap. At last I gave in to the meter, and a poem was born.
This week, again, the prose came with difficulty. But this time I recognized the pull of the return key and another poem was written with less struggle.
I have no small business thoughts for you this week. Nor do I claim to have inspiration for you. I don’t feel inspired. I feel numb. I feel angry. I feel frustrated. I can only tell you about my feelings. Perhaps you will recognize them.
I Just Keep Shaking My Head
©September 15, 2001
The images are burned into my brain:
The impacts, the fires, the destruction.
I want to wake up from this nightmare.
I just keep shaking my head.
Who could do this?
Why would anyone do this?
How could any human being do this?
I just keep shaking my head.
Four airplanes gone.
So many buildings destroyed.
One rural meadow scarred.
I just keep shaking my head.
Hundreds – no – thousands of innocent lives taken.
Thousands – no – tens of thousands of families grieving.
Millions – no – billions of civilized humans disbelieving.
I just keep shaking my head.
So much love denied.
So many friendships abbreviated.
So many spirits lost to another dimension.
I just keep shaking my head.
Years of productivity gone.
A world of promise stolen.
A wealth of contribution eliminated.
I just keep shaking my head.
Survivors’ faces in pain and anguish.
Loved-ones’ hearts broken.
The toll – incalculable.
I just keep shaking my head.
A few evil people.
Thousands of innocent victims.
Why is evil easier to leverage than good?
I just keep shaking my head.
The irony is palpable:
Evildoers with blood on their hands.
Courageous recovery workers with blood on their hands.
I just keep shaking my head.
Why is there despair simultaneous with hope?
How could there be loathing concurrent with admiration?
How can this be?
I just keep shaking my head.
At last I witness hopefulness in unity.
I see selflessness and courage.
Now we unite behind a purpose.
I begin raising my head.
Here there is love being shown.
There we see hope springing forth.
Yonder there are demonstrations of leadership.
I raise my head further.
America is strong – Americans have strong spirits.
We summon the resolve for which we are known.
We demonstrate the courage with which we have been blessed.
I hold my head high.
I have faith in myself.
I have confidence in our people.
We have been here before.
God be with us.
God bless America