QUIET TRAIN

I am so incredibly moved by the 9/11 ceremonies and recollections, coinciding as they do this year with the Jewish New Year and prayers for peace. Looked back at this short poem I wrote trying to go "back to business as usual" two days after, 25 years ago that seems like yesterday.

QUIET TRAIN

Two days after,
Quiet train to the city,
Like the train that just passed us
And the train we just passed,
Quiet, very quiet

 Almost-smiles as I move slowly
Atop aisle’s brown linoleum,
Window seat with skyline view?
Always, on the right,
Not today,
I know not my strength,
The corner looks safer,
For my heart

 Announcements minimal,
They know we know
Where we’re going,
Back to business as usual, they told us,
Cell phones in pockets,
If out, voices soft, barely audible,
No business, no usual,
Just quiet,
Quiet is good,
And no one wants to roust the devil

 New York Times are open,
Turning pages and pages of detail,
Painstakingly, dangerously researched pages,
Pages of survivors, bodies, miracles, heroes, plots, and retribution,
Quiet, screaming pages,
For this quiet, screaming train