20 years

of everlasting loss 

& sadness

20 years

of families

destroyed forever

20 years

of particles floating

made from cancer-causing dust  

in Lower Manhattan

20 years

of PTSD reactions

from the actions

of that day

20 years

of pictures

of tower carnage

20 years

seeing the new gaping holes

where lights disappeared

20 years

we were still asking:

“Why the fuck did this happen?”

20 years

the broken pieces

slowly come together

20 years ago

I wasn’t here in the flesh,

but that day has affected all of us

the whole world over 

Firewood must be dead to ignite & burn.

Everything that is alive

(like anger, the fire must be fed so we’ll get warm)

will smoke up—

Everything that is alive,

our objects from the wilderness 

will smoke up;

they will not give us warmth at night.

Our objects from the wilderness 

[words] are too precious; please stay quiet & peaceful.

They will not give us warmth at night.

Please don’t gather up the green sticks!

Words are too precious; please stay quiet & peaceful.

Like anger, the fire must be fed so we’ll get warm—

Please don’t gather up the green sticks!

Firewood must be dead to ignite & burn.