NC Poets on 9/11: Lenard D. Moore’s “In Retrospect: 9/11”
Lenard D. Moore is assistant professor of English at Mount Olive College, where he directs the literary festival and advises The Trojan Voices. He is the author of A Temple Looming, Forever Home, The Open Eye and other books. A Raleigh resident, he is the guest editor of the special “Aforebo: A Harvest of North Carolina Writers of African Descent” double issue of Obsidian: Literature in the African Diaspora, Volume 10, Issue 2 Fall/Winter 2009 and Volume 11, Issue 1 Spring/Summer 2010. He is also guest editor of the special “Teachers and Students” theme issue of Solo Café 8 & 9.
IN RETROSPECT: 9/11
Praise the firemen who went thundering
up the stairs that September morning,
thump thump thump
and weighted down:
uniforms, hats, boots, oxygen tanks, fire hoses.
Praise the long red trucks with ladders
raising silver into smoke and dust
from the boom of concrete and metal
that scorched the asphalt face of earth.
Praise the water’s arc that rose,
a drizzling tongue that could not lick
its way to the tall burning floors
when the windows blew out
when the walls cracked and burst
when the floors collapsed
when the firemen would not abandon
workers scrambled in ash.
Praise the firemen who went thundering in.
Copyright 2011 by Lenard D. Moore
12 Responses to “NC Poets on 9/11: Lenard D. Moore’s “In Retrospect: 9/11””
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Lenard, this poem really captures the intensity of that day. And I love the sentiment in that last line. Nicely done!
Great poem – thanks for such an accessible poem, so fitting to mark a shared, national tragedy.
As always, well said, Lenard. Thank you for the life you bring in your poetry.
Lenard,
How beautifully sad! How true! Thank you…
Prof. Moore, firefighters everywhere need to read this so they will know how much they are appreciated. Thanks for poignantly articulating our sentiments. Please keep your pen to the page…
“the water’s arc that rose,
a drizzling tongue that could not lick
its way to the tall burning floors”
As usual, wonderful imagery painting the dichotomy of human tragedy and heroism. Good job as always.
You’ve captured the intensity of that day through your rhythm and word choice: “scorch the asphalt face,” ‘a drizzling tongue,”
“raising silver into smoke.” Wish I could hear you read it!
Passionate,vibrant,and moving poem. It made my heart pound faster and then stand still-much like 9-11. I hope it is ok to share it with the teachers and students at my schoool.
Great poem, Lenard. I agree with Maggie Chula’s comments.
Amazing!!!! I will share this.
Lenard:
Thank you for the poem, one filled with wonderful imagery. I look forward to hearing you read it.
Well done, Professor Moore!