Written by Patricia D. Freudenberg
September 11th is not just a date in history, it is a memory carried in the hearts of a nation, and especially in the soul of every New Yorker. That morning, the sky was clear, but the world changed forever. Fear, uncertainty, and sorrow gripped us. Yet even in the shadow of devastation, the seeds of resilience were planted.
I wrote this poem to capture the emotions of that day:
September 11
On September 11th, as I watched in fear,
I knew redemption was far from near.
The day was sunny but wasn’t so clear,
Who could’ve known the black swan was here?
A moment in time yet never forgotten,
And rebuke the men who sure were rotten.
An awakening has turned yet another season,
Redemption time is now a new reason.
Let’s cherish our freedom and not take it for granted,
The brave men and women who made that happen.
May all the victims and frontliners, too,
Be always remembered forever anew.
As the sun rose bright, yet shadows fell,
A silence broke where towers fell.
We gasped for breath, we searched for light,
A nation wounded, bound in night.
But from the dust, brave hearts did rise,
With tear-stained cheeks and steadfast eyes.
Through grief, through pain, through endless skies,
We found the strength to empathize.
The heroes ran where others fled,
Their courage wrote the words unsaid.
And though the loss we still endure,
Their legacy remains secure in name.
As a New Yorker, I will never forget the chaos and the heartbreak. But I will also never forget the hands that reached out, the unity that emerged, and the light that found its way into the darkness. That is where transformation lives, within the human spirit’s ability to create hope from despair.
“Grief is the echo of love, and resilience is love refusing to be silenced.”
– Patricia D. Freudenberg
Today, as we honor the victims, the heroes, and their families, let us do more than remember. Let us transform our remembrance into action, acts of kindness, compassion, and unity that ensure their legacy lives on.
A Prompt for the Nation:
How will you honor the memory of September 11th in your own life today, through a moment of silence, an act of service, or a word of kindness?
Closing Thoughts
As we pause on this solemn day, let us remember that grief, though deeply personal, is also profoundly collective. September 11th reminds us that together we all rise. In coming together as a nation, we honor those who have passed on, and we continue their legacy through unity, compassion, and resilience. May our shared remembrance not only preserve the memory of the lives lost, but also inspire us to stand side by side in strength and in hope.
With remembrance and resilience,
Patricia D. Freudenberg
Certified End of Life Consultant
New York, USA
© Patricia D. Freudenberg. All Rights Reserved.
