9-11

this took me 12 years to write...

the phone call to his BEQ at 0200
flashes of the towers on the television
I asked why he was watching a movie
he said, "I gotta drop you off at the ship"
my chest pounded with the news
wiping the sleep that blinded me
my eyes saw -
The Twin Towers...
my ears rang hard at the sound of -
The Pentagon...
and I wondered, what about the Borders?
in my gut, I was certain of schemes
barriers already put up
the sight of sand-colored camos shaking hands with khakis
at the Kitty Hawk Pier frightened me...
my face drenched, not by rain
my bag at the Blue Ridge pier,
not checked 100%
I was the first in the Admin department to return to the ship.
Since Gauthier was shore duty YN2,
shore duty Admin got the first phone calls.
letting go of the comfort
of our somber disturbed...
awake 48 hrs in the office
we'd been glued to the TV screens
we yearned to be there.
yearned to help & rescue.
We had a ship to refurbish.
Watches to stand.
Guns to man.
I prayed
I wished
to never shoot to kill.
Prayers get answered.
Wishes come true.

9-11, not relived
just not forgotten.

Took me 12 years to write this shit.