By Joseph Hesch
The night of my forty-ninth birthday,
I pulled the covers over a part
of my life I knew was ending.
The next morning would be the first
on the path to my autumn,
when everything about life would change.
I awoke to a morning sky
of such infinite azure beauty,
so clean of cloud and worry
that I made a memory of it,
something I could carry
in my gray remaining years.
Mercilessly, my memory sky
was smeared by flame and smoke,
by dust and tears.
And soon I realized the selfish dread
I hid behind sleepy eyes the night
of that September 10, would
haunt me for all my days.
Always it will sting my eyes
when I think of that
last blue sky of summer.
On this tenth anniversary of the horrors of September 11, 2001, my poem addresses a loss so much less important in the grand scheme of things. I lost a bit of joy that comes every year on my birthday. And I lost the glory that was that last brilliant sky of my life's summer. (Photo by New York Daily News.)
"Always it stings my eyes when I think of that last blue summer." *sigh* It's so interesting to see the different emotions everyone has tied to this date. You've really made this personal, and I can feel the loss on many levels in your words. And, on a side note, I hope you were able to enjoy a lovely birthday yesterday, Joe :)
ReplyDeleteI love how you made this so personal and then opened it up to the grand scheme - we all have personal stories for that day; we all need to share them. I really love this.
ReplyDeleteEveryone remembers where they were that day. The memories are still vivid even after 10 years. And on such a beautiful 'last blue sky of summer' I feel your loss and am glad you shared it. Your poem was moving and heart-felt, and it has touched me.
ReplyDelete'Always it will sting my eyes
ReplyDeletewhen I think of that
last blue sky of summer.'
You have such a wonderful way of capturing such personal moments with your words, in a way that we can all feel. Thank you for sharing this personal moment with us.
attaching it to your birthday as well i am sure it rings with memory every year...so doing the math on your age now...smiles...a belated happy birthday as well friend...you are still young...
ReplyDeleteLovely and wrenching, Joe. I too chose to post a poem about my own trauma and early recovery and then last night added something about 9/11.
ReplyDeleteEvery loss matters. I've said elsewhere that the spectacular as in spectacle nature of this day grinds away at us and it is very difficult to do it justice. xxxj
I won't clutter this comment box with a lot of cliche--you've cut through that in your poem, and presented us with loss on a different but no less important level, finely drawn and well connected to that other loss we none of us will ever alter.
ReplyDeletePowerful piece, really a different take then what I've seen. Very well done and weaving in your birthday as the backdrop was a very nice touch. Happy belated birthday too.
ReplyDeleteVery different than those I have read so far. So personal, yet, tearing still at the memories of so many.
ReplyDeletepowerful words here. I hope you had a good birthday yesterday. In this poem I feel the loss and sadness on many levels.
ReplyDeleteYou've shared a personal connection to the event that I think many of us can relate to. Such a sad memory, Joe. I hope this year's birthday brought some joy to you.
ReplyDeletea personal insight that was touching of you to share. I must have my husband read this as his birthday is approaching and he has gotten into a funk about it.
ReplyDeleteMay the day come where happier memories flood your birthday.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully, sorrowfully written. A poem from within the poet.
Beth