photo of H. Yi
On September 11th, 2001, I woke up as usual and walked down the dormitory corridor. Outside the window is the tranquil morning landscape of Ithaca. Then I stopped by the lounge and saw a couple classmates were sitting in front of the TV. Some of them used both their hands to cover their mouths. I turned my head and watched the scene of the collapsing towers on the flat panel screen.
Ten years later, I still remember two sentences that I said before I left the lounge to call home. ” That is crazy. Do they know people can get killed by doing that?” I guess I couldn’t speak a word logically at that moment. I hope this poem below can comfort my mind for this special date.
The presence of the absence forever sounds.
Ten years of emptiness resonate minds.
What to touch our dark souls have to be found?
Should our memories be remained and combined?
Hate and love both can burn slowly into ashes.
While one has to be sunk and the other soar.
But for human being these two are crashed.
These mingled doublet need to be dividedly sawed.
From this vision lives remain and extend.
From that moment of crash another sprout emerges and sings.
And I would like to tell you my dear friends,
This sprout is not growing by root but by wings.
The holes of the absence should not be cold.
The hopes from the presence should be ever hold.