My Mourning Prayer on September 11, 2001

I don’t recall my morning prayer.

Did I pray for world peace?

The terrorists were seated by then,

Maybe had control.

How was the world to know?

News flashed past my ears.

Later, I understood the enormity;

Then I mourned.

Such evil! Such travesty!

The walls came tumbling down…

In more than one way.

Petty differences set aside

Now in each other we confide.

As I lay me down,

Oh God,

I pray

May this longer last

And not fade in the past.

I had just started my freshman year of college. Before I went to my writing class, I heard on the radio about the planes crashing into the World Trade Center. However, the reality didn't sink in until I saw the actual pictures on TV after class. I wrote this poem trying to sort out my feelings about the disaster.