National Poetry Month: 1

[rm]

For a year I rode the E
downtown
to World Trade,

Worked at Lehman
and wore suits with big shoulders
in soft colors
to prove my worth to men
who wouldn't fuck a girl with short hair.

My desk was on the eighth floor,
low enough to avoid the sway of engineering.

I shopped at lunch,
brown-bagged on marble steps, and
listened to music I didn't even like
amongst fake palms:
status for a desert in which we did not live.

All these years on and
people still go quiet in closed stations,
in our Pompeii.

The human mind is constructed, my mother says, to forget pain.

So when the tourists ask:
"Does this train go to Ground Zero?"
No, I say,
It goes to World Trade.

Comments

[redstapler.livejournal.com]

This.

[thornsilver]

yep.

[helens78]

I'm not normally much for poetry, but I really, really liked this.

[brewsternorth.livejournal.com]

True indeed, particularly the last five lines.

I suppose you've heard that a) 1 World Trade is no longer to be called the "Freedom Tower"; b) they've actually finally made progress on building its lower levels?

[rm.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I'm really relieved about that stupid fucking name. It drove me bugfuck for so many reasons.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I used to write (and sell) quite a bit of poetry, but it's something I haven't done with any focus/seriousness in years and years. So this is a lark for National Poetry Month. We'll see what I can produce and if I can get my chops back.

[tod-hollykim.livejournal.com]

I still smile slightly when I get on an E train and see the World Trade sign.

And watch old movies and TV shows for the towers.

[jadegirl.livejournal.com]

No, I say,
It goes to World Trade.

Oh, hell yes.

[contentlove.livejournal.com]

My compliments.

[karjack.livejournal.com]

This is awesome.

[ophymirage.livejournal.com]

yes.

*sniffles just audibly*

[genmaicha.livejournal.com]

Yes.

[stardragonca.livejournal.com]

Under new management.
It's good thing.
I honestly don't think it's even possible for me to ever regret President Obama winning.

[stiobhan.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[stardragonca.livejournal.com]

My eyes are undoubtably slightly wet because it's late, and it's been a long day.

Sincerely, I can never thank you for what you write.

[bodlon.livejournal.com]

Good to see you on the bandwagon.

This is the sort of poem that I recoil at saying something trite like "Ooh, nice," or whatever. It's more than that and deeper, and the kind of thing I'd prefer to do the equivalent of leaving a stone for, or offering (gluten-free) bread.

[kshandra]

All these years on and
people still go quiet in closed stations,
in our Pompeii.

*nods slowly, quietly*

[themaskmaker.livejournal.com]

Brava.

[rm.livejournal.com]

We'll see how long I last. This is the first poem I'm writte in years. I'm just glad it worked.

[1-mad-squirrel.livejournal.com]

So when the tourists ask:
"Does this train go to Ground Zero?"
No, I say,
It goes to World Trade.

Oh man. * hug *

[podle.livejournal.com]

Well done. I'm not sure you need to worry about getting your chops back.

[nekosensei.livejournal.com]

That was amazing. Good work!

[silmaril.livejournal.com]

Beautifully done. Thank you for sharing.

[abnormal-apathy.livejournal.com]

As a family member of someone who died there, THANK YOU!

[quarkwiz.livejournal.com]

::applause::

[coneyislandbaby]

Stunning. I'm not a great poetry reader but that is so evocative and beautiful. Thank you for sharing that.

I'm not American but I still get a shock when I see the Towers in a movie or on an old show.

[liddle-oldman.livejournal.com]

Oh.

Oh.

[xanath.livejournal.com]

I wish I could give you the heartfelt, respectful silence this poem deserves, or the tears it evoked.

May I link to this?

[stardragonca.livejournal.com]

I can link to this, and quote it in the link?

[rm.livejournal.com]

Sure.

Everything which is sad is beautiful.

[stardragonca.livejournal.com]

I'm crying again. It's the last paragraph. I can't say anything like that. Thank you.

[stardragonca.livejournal.com]

Thank you.
Other love you for many things. I love you for what I read of you.

[bestjessicaever.livejournal.com]

extraordinary. i'm shedding tears of love & remembrance.