That Fateful Day in September



When foreign people search the world to find a place to live, so many choose America, we have so much to give.
Then terrorism viewed the world, and sadly, it would choose our own beloved America, we have so much to lose.  

Good people need a lifetime just to build a country right.
A coward needs a moment just to ruin it overnight.
When terror struck, our world stood still, we watched our comrades fall.
With heavy heart and steadfast thoughts, our servants took the call.  

We watched in helpless horror while terrorism slept.
With swollen eyes and broken dreams, we went to bed and wept.
They should leave a sleeping dog alone; he has a mighty bite.
They got more than they asked for when they chose to pick a fight.  

Our eagle flies above us now, his talons are unfurled.
His wrath had been both swift and just and felt around the world.
The giant is awake again and we’ve been forced to see:
We were once again reminded that our freedom isn’t free!  

GOD BLESS AMERICA!!

 

About this poem

As a vet, I was devastated by the events of 9/11. The cowards had brought their hate and destruction to our hallowed shores. Previous battles had been fought on foreign soil. This one hurt. I wrote the original of this poem three or four days later.

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Written on September 15, 2001

Submitted by npirandy on September 11, 2023

59 sec read
52

Quick analysis:

Scheme XX AABB CCAA DDEE X
Closest metre Iambic octameter
Characters 998
Words 199
Stanzas 5
Stanza Lengths 2, 4, 4, 4, 1

Randy West

I'm 76 years old and a combat veteran from Vietnam. I used to compose poetry while on ambush patrol as a way of staying awake on watch, since falling asleep could be hazardous to my health. I started early in life though, because, as a child, I would write little tidbits to my mom for the heck of it. more…

All Randy West poems | Randy West Books

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"That Fateful Day in September" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/170841/that-fateful-day-in-september>.

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