Poems about September 11: Reflecting on Tragedy Through Verse

The events of September 11, 2001, forever changed the world. The devastating terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center towers in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington D.C., and the crash of United Airlines Flight 93 in Pennsylvania, left an indelible mark on humanity. In the aftermath of this unimaginable tragedy, artists turned to poetry as a means to express their grief, anger, and hope. Here, we explore a collection of poignant poems that encapsulate the emotions surrounding September 11, offering solace, remembrance, and a testament to the strength of the human spirit.

"September 11, 2001" by Lynn Strongin

When the towers fell
the world was exposed
thin as a serpent’s skin
inching before the wind

Buildings were razored to the ground
steel crushed, windows broken
Bodies hurled like empty shoe boxes
by a simplistic tantrum

where hate knows no boundary
no absolute line between
debating politics or merely
constructing destruction with fire

Lynn Strongin's visceral poem captures the shocking destruction and loss that took place on September 11. The vivid imagery, like "bodies hurled like empty shoe boxes," provides a haunting perspective on the tragic events.

"Pentagon Elegy" by Marilyn Nelson

Slashed words of fire
on cold, hard metal
burn through sheet and skin.
They leave words there
like ashes.
I hate this.

I hate iron against flesh.
I hate the blind storm
tearing at our trembling hearts.
If words were wind,
they might annihilate despair.
Not this bereavement.

Marilyn Nelson's "Pentagon Elegy" channels the grief and anger associated with the attack on the Pentagon. The repetition of "I hate" underscores the profound emotions stirred by such a senseless act of violence.

"The Names" by Billy Collins

A soft rain stole in, unhelped by any breeze,
And when I saw the silver glaze on the windows,
I started with A, with Ackerman, as it happened,
Then Baxter and Calabro,
Davis and Eberling, names falling into place
As droplets fell through the dark.

Names printed on the ceiling of the night.
Names slipping around a watery bend.
Twenty-six willows on the banks of a stream.
In the morning, I walked out barefoot
Among thousands of flowers
Heavy with dew like the eyes of tears,
And each had a name —
Fiori inscribed on a yellow petal
Then Gonzalez and Han, Ishikawa and Jenkins.

Names written in the air
And stitched into the cloth of the day.
A name under a photograph taped
To a mailbox. [...]

In "The Names," Billy Collins presents a different approach to memorializing the victims of September 11. Rather than focusing on the immediate aftermath, he draws attention to the enduring impact of this tragedy by chronicling the multitude of names affected. The gentle imagery of flowers heavy with dew and names "stitched into the cloth of the day" carries a sense of both fragility and resilience.

Remembering Through Poetry

Poetry serves as a powerful vessel for remembering and processing collective trauma. Poems about September 11 offer a unique perspective, allowing us to empathize with the victims, survivors, and all those affected by the tragedy. Through these verses, we find solace in shared grief and a renewed determination to build a better, more compassionate world.

Note: The featured poems were created by different authors, each responding to the events of September 11 from their own unique perspective and artistic interpretation. These poems are a small sampling of the vast collection of verse inspired by this tragic event. The poetry community continues to create and share works that offer insight, healing, and a path towards understanding.