On latest episode of Village Voice, I joined Jim and Margery on Boston Public Radio to share a couple poems of remembrance: “Photograph for September 11” by Wislawa Szymborska, translated from Polish by Clare Cavanagh, and “That Day: When We Were One” — my first 9/11 poem.

Click to hear about the experience of writing an Occasional Poem, and how Horace Mann School, charities, and organizations such as: Grab The Torch, Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund, 9/11memorial, and Howard Lutnick, inspired this poem which became a more hopeful reminder that we can once again reunite as a nation.

Click to read along with the poem copied below.

Photograph from September 11
by Wisława Szymborska
translated from Polish by Clare Cavanagh

They jumped from the burning floors—
one, two, a few more,
higher, lower.

The photograph halted them in life,
and now keeps them
above the earth toward the earth.

Each is still complete,
with a particular face
and blood well hidden.

There’s enough time
for hair to come loose,
for keys and coins
to fall from pockets.

They’re still within the air’s reach,
within the compass of places
that have just now opened.

I can do only two things for them—
describe this flight
and not add a last line.

Click for: That Day: When We Were One.

Consider making a donation to:
The Cantor Relief Fund
The 9/11 Memorial

This episode of “Village Voice” aired on WGBH Boston Public Radio on September 14th, 2020.