9/11: Poetry Performance

Americans thought 
that we were beyond onslaught
and forever safe.
Then the twin towers collapsed
and our illusions vanished.

9/11 marks
the end of our innocence—
despair without end.
Nothing much matters to us
except grabbing what we can.

9/11 is
remembered and forgotten
every single day—
Iraqi and Afghani 
wars feed our futility.

9/11 fades 
and reappears in our sleep
as late night terrors.
Morning in America
casts first light on our problems.

9/11 is 
the beginning of the end
of democracy.
We make America great
with fists and middle fingers.