September Day

that day was bright
pretty with promise
sky blue
puffy, random clouds
I ran late for work
and wondered if anyone would notice
but that was before
black smoke filled the skies
of Gotham

two planes flew into steel and concrete 
and two towers fell
slowly
like giants dying
another flew
striking the heart of war and secrets
and yet another went down
in a field of green, green grass

it was a quiet
dream of a morning
before

12 years later
flags rest at half-mast
in a clear blue sky
no wind blows
even still
media scrolls
somber, weighty
images of firefighters
and flags
rubble and
remnants of
reverent rage

we remember
we who can never forget
friends, coworkers, heroic strangers
gone
like a dream of a 
could've-been-pretty day
of blue sky
filled with black smoke