Written in memory of Karen Hetrick, 18, Janice Novak, 20, Sharon Stewart, 18, Angie Watson, 3, Jacqulin Watson, 27, and Jerry Wheeler, 21, all deceased on September 11, 1963 and with them the age of innocence.


The Eleventh Day of September

With tears in my eyes I remember
The eleventh day of September,
The night my father came to me
In the year 1963.


His voice developed a quiver
When he started to deliver
In a mood of melancholy
A most somber soliloquy.


A train had smashed my brother’s Ford
Instantly killing all on board.
Six people had died in the rain--
Their bodies ripped up by a train.


By the track were bits and pieces
A Bible covered in feces,
An earring, glasses and a shoe
I gag but what am I to do?


At their graves we said our goodbyes
But on our lips tarry the lies
"The pain will someday be lessened",
And, "we can accept what happened."


The storm is past the sun is out
But into my mind creeps the doubt
That God is not benevolent.
Dark doubt grows and will not relent.


Now in my nightmares I must see
The details of this tragedy:
A three year old and her mother,
Three young women and a brother,

Who once was called, Jerry.



I thought I should post this so it doesn't interfer with next week's memories.


Nick

[This message was edited by surgeon50 on 09-02-02 at 03:37 PM.]

You know that with that title, the first thought I had was the most recent Eleventh Day of September. Yet it appears you owned that day long before the rest of the world.

I apologize in advance, as the world commemorates the day next week, but not your loss.

A touching, sad poem about a horrible tragedy. My heart goes out to you.

-----
What's done can not be undone.
Lady MacB

and her horror at such a tragedy. I'm sorry for your loss and pain, which comes through clearly in this piece.

Thank you for sharing.

As of this moment, there are 2 posts and 76 viewings of your thread. There should be at least a dozen posts, but I think I know why there aren't. "The Eleventh Day of September" jangles our own complacency and awakens our own real or anticipated nightmares..... and we are speechless.

Tragedy such as you experienced (and re-experienced in your nightmares) disintegrates our usual glibness. Nothing in our upbringing nor education prepares us for such a moment.... so we are dumbstruck.

Forgive us our stammering tongues and know we sorrow with you..... nearly 40 years later.

Aire

"And in the end, after the pruning, both the fruit of the vine and 'fruits' of the heart become fine wine." \Doug/

I am stumbling for words. I have a friend on this site who uses this catch phrase, "these words are my bones"(veeva) and this phrase came to mind reading your piece.Poetry is suppose to make you feel something whether good or bad. I think this poem fits that criteria.


Rico

I have read this three times now. Did not reply because I did not know what to say. Airedale filled in my words. I feel for your loss, not just of your brother and the others, but for the innocence.

I extend my condolences.

My favorite lines:

At their graves we said our goodbyes
But on our lips tarry the lies
"The pain will someday be lessened",
And, "we can accept what happened."

I think these lines capture the thoughts that come to mind so long after the initial tragedy...almost as if reminding us that maybe it won't get better, and maybe it will...but when?

I really have no other words, Nick...my heart is with you.

-Hellsangel

_______________________________________________

"Chase the sun in my head
Blistered skin turning red
I can't complain
It's something to do
Cloud my mind and erase you"

Fuel - "Scar"

Since Hellsangel was nice enough to bump the post, I would like to take this chance to say some thank-yous.

Rhon, your words were very kind and sensitive. Thank-you, they were much appreciated.

Fair_GwenofAir, it is so good to have you back with us. Thanks for the words and thanks for being back!

Airedale, thank you for the kind explanation. I am not sure that you are correct. I think the couplets probably don't work well for this piece...it makes it seem like a nursery rhyme. Sometimes, people don't respond because the poem just isn't very good. Thank you for thinking it was better than it was.

Rico, thanks for the kind thoughts. I guess a train can be "12" as well, huh?

AgainstAwayAgain, thanks for reading the poem three times. That is a compliment of itself, that and the sympathy. As you picked up, this poem is more about the writer than the deceased: it is more about the loss of his innocence than an eulogy.

Hellsangel, thanks for the condolences and the nice critique. They were much appreciated. It took me 39 years to first try and write about this event. Maybe next time I will do better.

I can trace my lineage back to King Lear's fool, so it is genetic.
Nick

But even though that day is only 77 hours away as of this writing, I'm bumping this anyway.

My friend, you do not have to apologize to anyone for anything. This piece was executed beautifully. I personally feel that you don't ever have to apologize for telling the truth about something, even when it hurts.

I don't know what it is about that date Nick. I lost my favorite aunt on September 11, 1972. One of my best and closest friends died of leukemia on September 11, 1981. My grandmother September 11, 1989. Then there was the attacks one year ago. Maybe September 11th is just Dues Day - I don't know. But I can feel your pain and sense of loss, even all these decades later. I suppose it's something I can understand and relate to, it's unfortunate that no words can ever make that pain go away. Sometimes the 23rd Psalm helps though.

I believe that this was one of your best, for it was written from the heart. I feel like a heel for being so busy that I have not been around this forum to see it sooner. Please forgive me.

Ron

Hello surgeon,

This fitting tribute has opened our collective eyes that there are other events that have meaning to some people, not just the horror that was 9-11-2001. One tends to overlook, or not even be aware of that.

It is always such a tragedy when young people die too soon, and as AAA states above, one does not always know how to express one's feelings. It seems it gets easier with time, but of course, that requires more tragedies.

Thanks for sharing this, hopefully you have found acceptance with time.

Merlin

[This message was edited by Merlin on 09-08-02 at 09:29 AM.]

I was so moved by this piece, I'm just checking in to say so.
Not sure what you mean by "maybe you'll do better next time," because I feel you did a fine job this time.
The way you end with the last two lines, and then add another to reveal the name of your brother is so profoundly brilliant, touching, and sad.
Excellent work.

Nothing much else to say. The pain may dull, but it never quite goes away. thank you for sharing, for revealing a little bit of your soul to us.

Harv

I shiver comfortless, but cast
No chill across the tablecloth;
I, all-forgotten, shivered sad
To stay and yet to part how loathe;
I passed from the familiar room,
I who from love had passed away,
Like the remembrance of a guest
That tarrieth but a day.
-Christina Rossetti,from-At Home

parecen las estrellas del cielo

click here!

this is a beautiful poem, with a melancholy setting, and a great tribute to those innocent victims.. good work.

the 11th of september, then, causes double-sorrow for you.. i'm sorry..

thanks for sharing!


--------Sanya----------

“Do what you think and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.”-Richard Bach

The moving finger writes
And having writ, moves on
Not all thy piety nor wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half a line
Nor all thy tears wash out a word of it.

Thanks for the heartfelt posts. They are appreciated.

Trader,

I think you should write a poem about Dues Day. The phrase has a good ring to it. I certainly like it a whole lot better than Doomsday. Sorry about your losses on Dues Day. My little brother was four on 9/11/63. He was surprised to be reminded that was the date....the irony of 9/11. Thanks for your encouragement. I am glad you got your handle back. You were always the Trader to me. For a finder's fee I will give you the address and phone number of my brother-in-law.


Merlin,

It is good to know someone from Time, Immemorial. Welcome to QL, I hope you are being well received. Thank you for your post, I appreciate your thoughts. I have lost many people over the years but this is the one I can't seem to work through. Maybe if I write about it...


thenostromo

Thank you. Your praise was more than I deserve but I will accept it anyway. Keep up your great work. I hope to live long enough to see you hit 100,000 posts. Just don't do it next week!


Harv,

For someone who is supposed to be protecting me, you sure write a lot of good poetry. I am starting to wonder if what they say about doctors also applies to soldiers. They say, "Don't go to a doctor who is a scratch golfer!" I say, "Don't be protected by a soldier who writes great poetry!" It seems neither is putting proper emphasis on their primary job. Thanks.

$anya,

Thanks for the encouragement. Now I am trying to figure out the significance of that $ sign in place of the "S". It mu$t be very $ubtle $ince I am having trouble.

I can trace my lineage back to King Lear's fool, so it is genetic.
Nick

For Jerry... and Karen, Janice, Sharon, Angie and Jacqulin.

And for Nick.

-----
What's done can not be undone.
Lady MacB

Doc, I read this one many times over since you posted it and each time the words escaped me to respond. All the others before me said so much but given today's date, I felt that I owed you a response. You pulled from your heart the loss and pain that must be with you and those around you who loved these people, each and every day of thier lives. Even to say I'm sorry seems so small compared to the loss you experienced. I will just say from my heart, "In heaven you have angels waiting to be reunited someday with you, a small comfort but one that is there"........Gem


"Praevalent illicita...Tacitus-Annales. XIII"

The eleventh day of September again…
it never gets easier does it?
*sigh*
I hope well for Karen, Jacqulin, Jerry, Angie, Sharon, Janice and your lost innocence.
This poem makes me shudder. Just like You Left In The Lightning And Rain touches me. Both so well done, both so heartfeltly done.
Hope ya receive my wee email.
T’care, m’Docyfriendy.
Hugs and hope~

----
"Do-you-mean-to-say," cried the excited Rat, "that this door-mat doesn’t tell you anything?"
"Really, Rat," said the Mole quite pettishly, "I think we’ve had enough of this folly. Who ever heard of a doormat telling anyone anything? They simply don’t do it. They are not that sort at all. Doormats know their place."
-From "The Wind in the Willows" by Kenneth Grahame

Thanks Aire for bumping You Left In The Lightning And Rain... this one deserves a bump too..

Nick, my friend, you and your brother are ever in my thoughts and deepmost prayers. If you're finding it hard to have the faith today, don't; I'd have it for you. Take care. To you and to all the loved ones of Jerry, Sharon, Janice, Karen, Jacqulin, Angie, I wish peace, joy, and reunion..

Hugs and silences.
And hope and eternity.

I don't recall ever having read this poem but thought it worth bumping because of the universality of our sadness on the 11th, and recognition of others' personal tragedies. Sad.