September 11; Pausing To Reflect

As we approach the anniversary of the tragic events that unfolded on a beautiful day in New York City five years ago it is a time to pause, a time to reflect, a time to remember the terrible loss of lives, the inexplicably violent and horrific, mindless acts that led to that saddest of events, the falling of the World Trade Centre.

At middle age, this tragedy stands alone in my mind as one of the most horrific events during my lifetime and clearly one that will remain in memory indefinitely...with great sadness.

As a Canadian who has relatives of American citizenship, and one who has shared many wonderful moments with friends south of our border, it grieves me deeply to recall not only the events of that day but the apparent reasons for this mindless attack.

The intent of this post is in no way an effort to politicize this journal, rather simply a personal reflection, a tribute if you will to those lives lost...and their loved ones left behind to mourn their passing.

As an author of poetry I write of my observations of a wide variety of themes, many reflecting happiness, but also some verse touching upon those events in our lives that have a profound impact on our emotions, our sense of being, our dignity, our humanity.

We seem to live in increasingly troubled times and our attempts to rationalize what occurs in our world are sometimes an enormous task. The events of 9-1-1 are remembered at the anniversary of this tragic day five years ago. For this writer the memories are re-visited very often.

For yet another moment I pause to reflect....
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SEPTEMBER 11 BRINGS SADNESS AND HOPE


Long will we remember this fateful day of terror in the skies, death in a horrible way. So tragic and senseless, never again we pray.

For those who perished and their loved ones.


Horrific images recount the scene
Shimmering towers collapse to the street
Precious lives lost in a moment of hate
Painful memories relived on this day

With sadness we pray for those left behind
Grief-stricken parents, a tormented spouse
A child to raise whose parent is gone
Shaken by nightmares to last a lifetime

City blocks ashen, smoke billowing long
The World Trade Centre, symbolic, now gone
In tribute we pause for the heroes that day
Whose own life met peril, rescuers' fate

Hope and renewal live on in our dreams
Standing united against evil things
Blessed are those who fell silent this day
Our heads bowed in prayer, remembering you


Copyright 2004 by Don MacIver

Poetry With Purpose

Writing poetry is many things to many writers. For some, putting one's own personal thoughts, opinions, observations in published form serves a deeply personal purpose. It is a means to convey a message from close to the heart, one-on-one or one to the masses.

Still, others see poetry, as many other genres of writing, as an opportunity to establish presence in the world of authors, to share their writing talent for support and critique, and to develop as a writer by learning the craft from the pen of another.

Whatever the reasons for an individual writing, there must be a focus on purpose. What do you as the aspiring, or established, writer wish to accomplish with your writing? Establishing purpose means establishing goals. Spend some time in advance of composing a piece to decide what you want your reader to achieve or benefit from viewing your writing.

When I first started to write poetry it was for reasons of a highly personal nature. I wrote poetic verse to communicate deeply personal feelings I had in a relationship with my partner. Writing later became a means to reflect what emotions I was experiencing as they related to the loss of a loved one. With time my writing embraced my observations of an infinite number of themes, virtually everything that surrounded me locally to what was happening around the globe.

For some, writing becomes highly politicized, a grandstand or platform, a rant, whimsical muse, pondering, an indepth examination of one's subject and one's self, a celebration, a grieving, a form of therapy or exercise of the mind and soul.

When I write I begin with a focus on the big picture, the overall message that I wish to convey. Once that image is firmly ensconced in my mind then and only then do I move on to set out the various components of the article that will serve to paint that total picture in the reader's mind...I have established purpose.

Once the purpose or objectives for the piece are clearly defined it is much easier to craft the writing in a cohesive manner, easily followed and understood...and hopefully appreciated or otherwise found to be useful in some way to the reader.

Copyright 2006 Don MacIver