Tuesday, September 11, 2012

9:11 am



Shift ends at 8am
and I look over at the clock

It’s odd to me he often arrives
at 9:11, post commute

I try not to think about
that nightmare

I had struggled to get
out of my mouth

Shaking and choking
as I tried to tell him about it;

The one where I am at his funeral
with our sons beside me

I just enjoy the moment
of being a firefighter’s wife

Enjoy his smile and laugh
full, when he bursts in the door

Sounding like the Ghost of Christmas Present
rich and deep, full of all things good

Today is the day I think about those photographs
with the towers in calamity

The firefighters rushing to, and in
while others are running away, and out

The looks on their faces
telling bravery is not without fear

It is committing to give
in spite of it

Not withdrawing
courage to save someone else’s spouse,

Someone else’s children
while praying someone will remember theirs

And I do





Copyright 2012 Jennifer Wagner 

Posted to dVerse Poets

81 comments:

Janet Martin said...

Touching tribute beautifully penned! may we never forget.

Anonymous said...

a very moving tribute, Jennifer..thank you for sharing~

hedgewitch said...

Fine poem. I won't trivialize it by trying to explain why.

Daydreamertoo said...

Bought tears to my eyes. Thank God for people like your husband who do care about other people's lives.
Very moving.

Anonymous said...

The looks on their faces
telling bravery is not without fear

On a day of unspeakable evil, heroes were born.

Brian Miller said...

oh man...heavy on the emotion...my grandfather was a fireman...and to think of all those rescuers that passed away on 9/11 as well...def pray for those that serve....someones son...or daughter....

Audrey Howitt aka Divalounger said...

Tearful write for me--I suspect, for many--lovely piece!!

kaykuala said...

A touching tribute that moved so many hearts. A brilliant piece, Jennifer!

Hank

Mark Windham said...

beautifully done

ayala said...

A beautiful tribute.

Serena said...

Wow... this brought tears to my eyes too... very beautiful and well written.

Sherry Blue Sky said...

This is the best poem about 9/11 I have read today. So real, because it is oh so true........may he keep coming in that door, every single day!!!!!

my heart's love songs said...

too often we forget the sacrifices made by the families of first responders and military personnel, not just in a tragedy but in the day-to-day, always facing the possibilities. thank you!

Anonymous said...

Your pride shines through ~ and rightly so ~ a grand tribute

Anonymous said...

A lovely poem. Great work that both you and your husband do. k.

Grace said...

Beautiful and touching personal share ~ Thank you ~

Susan said...

"I just enjoy the moment
of being a firefighter’s wife

"Enjoy his smile and laugh
full, when he bursts in the door"

The contrast of life and possible death in this poem and these and those children makes this poem so totally perfect ending with your caring.

You make me care about now, while I remember then, and this poem needs to be published--

Anonymous said...

Lovely touching tribute!!!

Kimolisa said...

A fitting tribute, beautifully written.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks Janet! Yes, may we continue to remember.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks very much Yelena.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you hedge.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks Daydreamertoo.

Jennifer Wagner said...

There were so many heroes that day, of all types. Thanks tino!

Jennifer Wagner said...

I pray for them too...thanks much Brian.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you very much Audrey.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks Hank-I really appreciate it!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you Mark.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you very much ayala.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks for your thoughts Serena, I so appreciate them.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Appreciate your good wishes Sherry! Thank you so much.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks so much for your kind thoughts. I appreciate it my hearts!

Linda Kruschke said...

Beautiful! Thank you for writing such a wonderful tribute. I especially love this stanza:

The firefighters rushing to, and in
while others are running away, and out

The commas (I love punctuation in poetry) and the pauses they require give so much weight to these two short lines. Peace, Linda

Sarav said...

This is a wonderful write! You gave me goosebumps. So many people to remember and give thanks. Thank you for this poem.

Jennifer Wagner said...

He does make me proud. Thanks for your comment Polly.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks k, I appreciate your words!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you Grace.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you so much Susan--your words are so very encouraging.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks for commenting Kiana!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Kimolisa- thank you very much, appreciate your words.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Linda, thanks for visiting and for your lovely comment.

Anonymous said...

A superb poem which expresses deep feelings so well. So difficult to do - I think you've communicated wonderfully. I find the opening especially
good.

Frank Watson said...

Touching, beautiful, and sad.

Unknown said...

the personal reflection is outstanding, line after line. Touching to its fullest ability. The line about being a firefighters wife, while probably the most subtle of all the lines in the poem, straightforward and all, really cemented down the empathy and ability to recognize the qualities transferred in remembrance. So deep, its tough to get down just all I wanted to respond to. Great job. Poem of the day in my opinion. Thanks

Wendy Bourke said...

The heroism and sacrifice really resonates.

Kathy Reed said...

I can only imagine how you dealt with this..but I think you have a handle on it now...thank you for sharing this...I am touched.

Susan said...

And thank you too, for stopping by and encouraging me!

Lisa A. Williams said...

This is such a touching, emotional poem. So often we tend to forget those who risk their lives everyday to save someone else and to think of all those who perished over a decade ago doing just that. Beautiful write!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Sara- thank you very much. I appreciate your thoughtful words!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you so much p-d. I'm glad you connected with the extent of emotion, and I appreciate your compliment.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you for your kind comment Frank.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you so much Fred. I really appreciate your thoughtful comment on my piece. I truly value your compliment here...means a lot to me.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks Doodles.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Honored it touched you kkkkaty. Thanks for commenting.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you Lisa--I value your thoughtful comment and appreciate your compliment--very much.

Claudia said...

wow..firefighters do a great but also so dangerous job...bravery is not without fear..this is so very true

adan said...

"bravery is not without fear" -

the whole poem, so touching, thank you jennifer

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks for commenting Claudia.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks very much adan--I appreciate your response to the piece.

Unknown said...

Fantastic poem, starting in fear, ending in hope and prayers. Lovely cycle.

RMP said...

a beautiful and touching piece.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks for visiting Kathy, and for your kind comment!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you very much RMP.

Anonymous said...

Wow, Jennifer. Deeply emotive to me.

Kerry O'Connor said...

So much is written about that day, the loss and the commemoration, but this really put a human face on the tragedy, and asked your reader to stand a while in the place of someone's wife. It gave me chills.

Tanya Sehgal said...

Ohh yes as every one said. You have very nicely kept the details alive, yeah i think my heart pains the same to think of such circumstances.

Jotter Girl said...

Always amazes me when my body feels a poem just as much as my mind. Thank you.

Unknown said...

Crushingly direct, pulling at my heartstrings.

rch said...

Very inspiring tribute but also much more, I really enjoyed this a lot.

Mary said...

What a tribute to those brave men who deserve high praise foe what they did on 9/11. You set the stage well and carried your poem through masterfully. Yes, we will remember them....those who lived to tell of it and those who died to try to save others.

Laura Maria said...

There's so much emotion in this. I like that you made it so personal.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks Victoria--appreciate your words.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks for visiting Kerry. I'm honored you felt the piece.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you for commenting Tanya, I appreciate your thoughts.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Jotter Girl- glad you came by and that you connected with this piece.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Glad to have you come by, thank you for commenting Kim.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks much rch--glad you enjoyed it.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Mary, thank you, well said.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks Laura, glad you liked it.

Sherry Blue Sky said...

Fantastic. "And I do." Not only firefighters risking all to save others - but their families too. God bless him, and all of you, with thanks for having the courage.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Appreciated words Sherry, thank you for saying them. Encouraging for sure.