A Poem In Remembrance of 9.11.01
Shalom/Salaam/Peace,
Steve
In the book of Deuteronomy we read of the ritual the people are commanded to enact upon entering the Promised Land. Moses tells people that they are to stand between two mountains, Gerizim and Ebal. As they stand in the valley, curses are to be pronounced from Mount Ebal and blessings from Mount Gerizim.
This is followed by the commandment for the people to utterly and completely destroy all the sites at which the other nations worship their gods in the land of Canaan (to become the “Promised Land”) and a warning that they are not to worship God in a like manner, but to "look only to the site that YHWH your God will choose" (eventually, Jerusalem, the “city of peace/ir shalom”), as the proper place for worship.
I could not help but think of this imagery of the twin mountains on this anniversary of the destruction of the twin towers of the World Trade Center. The imagery of walking in the valley between the two mountains also brought to mind the 23rd Psalm and it’s traditional translation “Yea, though I would through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil. For you are with me.”
I also thought of the commandment to destroy the worship sites of other nations in order to worship only in the place that God will command, the city of Peace, as I watched reports on the wars that have been raging since 9/11 and also the anti-Islamic vitriol that has become a part of the public discourse for some.
Keeping all of these thoughts in mind I tried to create a poem to express my thoughts and feelings in this moment. I hope you will find it meaningful.
between the mountains
between the towers
Walking between the mountains
between the towers of blessing and curse
wondering which is which
knowing each is both and neither
the curse permeates all
stench of burning flesh melted steel charred paper asbestos and fuel
the smell of hopes and dreams destroyed
permeating beyond nostrils
filling our souls as it empties them over and over
here in this valley there is no light no life
only deepest darkness and death
the curse is to live to survive when so many have died
true then and now
for those who walked that day between
the mountainous towers of blessing and curse
casting their shadow even after collapse
filling our world with putrid darkness
true for all who lived through the horror
and for those sitting glued to the screen
sorry we could not do more to help
glad we were far enough away from danger
at least for that moment
for ten years we have continued to walk through the valley
of darkness and light shadow and sun blessing and curse
still unable to know in each moment which is which
what once was seemed shadow suddenly bursts with light
what seemed a blessing now seems a curse then again a blessing
people things transformed in our minds through a mere word or gesture
gone are the days when it was simple to distinguish
right and wrong blessing and curse dark and light
if it ever was that easy
since that day when the entire world was immersed
in the valley of death’s shadow
when the obliteration destroyed all creation
the world again a formless void God waiting for us to reshape it
while in the same instance the goodness and godliness
of humanity of the world shone brightly through the darkness
on that day when humanity was at its worst
humanity was also at its best
as curses of hate were shrieked as evil ones sought to destroy our world
cries of blessings of love were uttered by those seeking to repair
from the streets the rooftops the mountains the world
those who survived those who cared
heard in the still small voice within all of us who cared
today the blessings still drown the curses
of those asserting that we must destroy
those claim that hatred can defeat hatred
for we know that it never can
as we walk between the mountains of smoke and shadow
we are called from above and within not to remain in the valley
but to walk through it on our way
to create a city country world
of peace and harmony love and blessing
the task is not easy
the memories of the days keep us stuck in the valley at times
but together we must continue to march out from the shadows
guided by the names the faces the souls
to the city of light and love that we are still creating in each moment
to the place beside the waters that restore our soul
enabling us to rest on the fields of peace
remembering all we have lost
being grateful for all we have gained
keeping the light of memories alive as new ones are created
one moment one soul one light at a time
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