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(Funny meme aside, this was a poem I wrote back in 2011 for 9/11.  I don’t remember if it was for a specific prompt or request.  Weird to post it in March, but I might repost it on the actual day this year.  Forgot I wrote it until now.  Yeah, I’m kind of dreading the comments too.)

I remember that day
Though I was six hours away
I was waking for a class
That would never come to pass
A friend said to put on the news
I thought he meant to simply confuse
Then I saw the twin towers fall
And I had many loved ones to call
I hoped that none of them were anywhere near
But hoping did little to quell my fresh fear

I wandered across campus as if I could only crawl
Eventually reaching the large central hall
Filled with students and teachers waiting to hear
If they had lost someone who they held very dear
Many people were crying and weeping out loud
Others were quiet, stunned members of the crowd
I remember the sorrow and anguish in voices
Over the loss of people who were given no choices
Yet something amazing did suddenly loom
A nation united started to bloom

People were nice and friendly to all
We were a nation that refused to fall
A bonding had happened to bolster our hearts
That for many were torn into still-beating parts
Our heroes were honored and held toward the sky
While we called for the villains who we wanted to fry
All those who stood up and defied our waged war
Were answered by primal screams from our core
Though there were signs that something was wrong
A festering curse that would not hide for long

Ten years have passed and something went sour
We fight with ourselves like monsters with power
Our country is hateful and cannot get along
Everyone is singing their own national song
Right against left and blue against red
Does anyone remember that people are dead?
Our leaders point fingers at any opposite mind
Many follow along as if they are blind
The insults and sniping and immature action
Have beaten our unity into crippling traction

I find myself wishing to go ten years past
When it felt that the pride of this country might last
A time when discussing in a big, open forum
Had some level of respect and some type of decorum
I weep for this nation that I leave to my son
Who may never see how a healthy country is run
Yet I hold onto memories that give me some hope
That we will not always ride down this self-loathing slope
I remember this day without being told
And I hope that the unity takes a permanent holdvv