WTC Attack Haiku						by Paul Goldstein 9/16/01

I		
			
The gates of hell
have opened briefly
the clean up produces
security

II

The after-image 
of the towers
in the smoky sky

III

Bitter taste
I see a plane again
in my soul

IV

Men are running 
And disbelieving 
for the telephone

V

It's a hot 
metallic taste
the night refuses
to go away

VI

Cold rain starts, night
summer's left, too
God clapped at 4:19
car alarms join
the panic

VII

I look
I see
hell again.

VIII

I finally deny
TV anchors
their chance
to scare me

IX

Those who loved
the icon
feel loss

X

My government
ignored lines
of amber in the sky

XI

An amputee;
the skyline;
Fill in;
the phantom.

XII

A car door closes,
I jump.
You ask me to hope,
I ignore,
angles of geography
on purpose,
now.

XIII

Don't burden me
With hope
protect
my land
from invaders

XIV

Nonsense;
smug anchor;
Evil smile;
has answers

XV

No one 
dares talk
or honk

XVI

Even the Beatles
have nothing
to say
to me 
today

XVII

You want to assault me
with images again
Fuck you.

XVIII

Child of fear;
Why me
Why you?

XIX

Some love
to be scared
won't release
the remote

XX

I almost don't go
to Bay Ridge
to avoid that view.

XXI

Anchor 
Your style
forsake your jacket
Don't you
listen to
the question?

XXII

Every song
has meaning now
every lover
a question mark

XXIII

Those who haven't lost a person;
Have lost them all;
And a skyline.