i see water and buildings

   i am so full of grief

   my heart is

   absolutely shattered

 he used to call me every day

 i’m just waiting

   absolutely shattered

 

it was a beautiful day

 i’m just waiting

   my heart is

 just waiting

   absolutely shattered

 

 he used to call me every day

cantor fitzgerald

105^th floor

please call

 

my son

 he used to call every day

 i’m just

 waiting

 

please call

we love you

please call

we miss you

 

  it was a beautiful day

the smoke

an act of war

     casualties

i see water and buildings

   absolutely shattered

     more than most of us can bear

 

we miss you

   i am

we love you

   so full of grief

 

  it was a beautiful day

the smoke

     the towers

windows on the World

     are gone

i see water and buildings

 

she had a voice like an angel

   my heart is

shared it with everyone

   shattered

in good times

   absolutely shattered

and bad

she looks so full of life in that picture

 

 he used to call every day

 i’m just waiting

she had

voice

like

angel

 

i loved him from the start

   absolutely shattered

i wanted to dig him out

i know just

where he is

 

he used to call every day

 waiting

i wanted to dig him out

i know just where he is

   absolutely shattered

 

tomorrow

   beautiful

will be three months

but it feels like yester-

   day

since i saw your face

i love you

to the moon and back

    forever

 

  he used to call

voice like an angel

  everyday

shared it with everyone

  i’m just waiting

good times and bad

 

an act of war

the smoke

billows

terror in the streets

     more than

   absolutely shattered

     most of us can bear

  it was a beautiful day

smoke

 

  it was a beautiful day

  i am

love you

  so full of grief

to the moon and back

    forever

 

i loved him from from the start

   my heart is

i wanted to dig him out

   so full of grief

i know just

where he is

 

the smoke

act of war

billowing

the second tower

it was a beautiful day

     gone

A poem inspired by John Adams' On the Transmigration of Souls. Like his amazing work, this is a memory space, composed entirely of quotes from victims and media of September 11. Every word is a tribute from the family member about their loved one. The title, "I see water and buildings" is taken from the last words of a stewardess on Flight 11, just before it crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center. Comments and questions welcome.