Grief Enough To Go Around

Just like you to make a last minute date,
leaving me a quickly scribbled note,
before tossing aside that broken campaign pencil from last year's election--
I remember you snapping it apart 
when you found out your man lost.
I laughed at you peering through your old bifocal glasses,
frame twisted awkwardly, 
making you look somewhat frog-eyed.

"Let's see that production you mentioned.
Meet you at 7:30, the Lyric; dinner afterward."
I did an "Oh, goodie!" and left for work.

You never arrived; cell phone going straight to voicemail. 
I stared at the playbill, September 8, 2001,
gave up and drove home, worried . . .

The police found me here,
telling me the details in their flat, official way;
three days later, your funeral . . .
a whole world grieves with me 
for today American changed,
today, everything changed .  . .

Faye Lanham Gibson
Copyright, October 3, 2014
Copyright © | Year Posted 2014

Poem

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Meier-Hans Avatar
November 3, 2014 at 6:24 PM
Fantastic Faye. You really tied the two dates in beautifully. Congratulations on your win.
Mohn Avatar
November 3, 2014 at 11:44 AM
I love how this poem shifted so quickly and darkly (just like the world that day) on the last stanza Faye...congrats and thank you so much for the lovely comment on mine as well
Yvonne Avatar
November 2, 2014 at 7:54 AM
Faye what an amazing write, congratulations on your well desrved win, good luck on the next round of the contest.
Guzzi Avatar
November 1, 2014 at 3:17 PM
The date is NOt impressed in my mind? Who knows why? The image of the 1st plane hitting the tower is- the feeling of so many souls not knowing they were even dead is- but the date (obviosly did not remind me? how odd) Congrad's on your win! Light & Love
Kayode Avatar
November 1, 2014 at 2:52 PM
This is really emotional,congrats Faye.
Richards Avatar
November 1, 2014 at 2:48 PM
These amazing poems stir up all those feelings experienced by each of us in our own way. Just as you said....there was enough grief to go around. Well done !
Allison Avatar
November 1, 2014 at 1:22 PM
Making me feel so sad reading all these poems - many congrats on your win with this descriptive write:-) Hugs jan xx
Lindley Avatar
October 5, 2014 at 6:09 PM
A most fine write my friend. A winner in my book for sure, good luck in the contest.
Bolton Avatar
October 4, 2014 at 9:25 AM
Hope you win. This poem is a winner, that's a fact. When you can surprise and shock you have a good ear for what kind of poetry people like to read. This is a poem people like to read. Thank you for posting it.
Yvonne Avatar
October 3, 2014 at 9:54 PM
Wow, sept 11, brilliant. I just love what you did with this. Excellent!
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