story8957.xml

story8957.xml

I am 16 and a member of my school's literary club. I wrote this poem as a tribute to the internal struggles of those who lost loved ones on 9-11, both civilian and fire & rescue workers. It was written on the anniversary for our school's memorial - this Christmas I visited the exhibition in Washington D.C. and wanted to share my poem with others:

"The Kiss They Left Behind" (c) 2002 by Lisa Dalrymple

Few understand the pain
of having only half your heart left.

-Hollowed heart
be filled
with the joy of a young one's eyes.

Demorilization becomes your demeanor,
and confusion your familiarity.

-Bewiledered mind
be stilled
by the comfort of another's understanding.

You're left cold
with no arms to warm you.

-Broken body
be healed
by the warmth of the sun that keeps on rising and setting.

You begin to wonder
what there is to life now.

-Spirit in despair
be willed
to teach your babies about their Daddy.

And remember to tell them,
when they're grown'
that they're

-the kiss they left behind.

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2003-01-13