Thursday, September 10, 2009

A Celebration of Life on 9/11

My nephew Patrick, my Aunt, Sister Marcella LaKoske, OP (age 91!) and I all have something in common. We were all born on September 11. While trying to make sense of how one can celebrate anything on 9/11, I wrote a poem. This poem is for everyone born this day:


Conversations with God and the Baker

For Patrick, Sr. Marcy and Me


Part I: Conversation with God
Please, Sir, may I change my date of birth?
No, not the years
I’ve earned them every one, for what it’s worth
Just the date
Formerly unobtrusive
Typed anonymously into the 254th square of my DayMinder ® calendar
No Magna Charta signed
No pilgrim landed
No mention in the dusty tomes of history
Just the beginning of three familial lives
Brought forth in consecutive generations
By couples seeking warmth and love on a late December night

But now
It does not seem right to celebrate a day
When towers burned like candles on a cake
And sacred ashes frosted the streets and
Seared the lungs and disbelieving eyes
Of those who prayed
That they could make a wish
And blow out those candles
And stop the fall of concrete, beams and glass
That wrapped those unexpected gifts to God

I understand
You must not undo what has been done
And anyway
To change a date
Is not the healing answer to the question

Instead we will stand strong and resilient
And celebrate life
On a day so tragically marred by senseless destruction

Part II: Conversation with the Baker


“What colors shall I frost this cake for you?”
“Please Sir, make it red, and white and blue.”


Cynthia Ann Conciatu © 09/11/02 
2003 Award -National Pen Women of America/Clearwater Branch



Note: I originally posted this in 2008. In June, 2009, my dear Aunt, Sister Marcy passed away at age 91.

28 comments:

Lavinia said...

Oh.....so poignant, and yet there is a sweetness mixed in amongst the sorrow. Uncanny coincidence that so many members of your family were born on September 11.

I will say happy birthday to you...and to all your relatives. Although the day has definite connotations of grief and sadness for Americans, I hope you can focus on the happy event of your life's beginning.

All the best for a great upcoming year, Cynthia, and p.s. you don't look a day over forty!

MuseSwings said...

Thank you for your wonderful comments and birthday wishes! Not a day over 40??? Thank you, I shall sleep well tonight.

Kelli said...

Dear Cynthia, Happy birthday for tomorrow and many happy returns!
Hugs,
~Kalianne

steviewren said...

Cynthia your poem is poignant and haunting.

Happy Birthday to you and yours.

Shelley said...

Very touching!
You deserve a wonderful birthday!

MuseSwings said...

Kalianne, Stevie and Shelly, Thank you for your birthday wishes!

Pat said...

Happy Birthday, on this day that no one will forget. My daughter is flying out of NY tonight...

Tess Kincaid said...

Happiest of birthdays, dear bloggy! I love this poem and so fitting for you birthday on this poignant day.

"Those who cannot remember the past, are condemned to repeat it." - George Santayana

A Wild Thing said...

BRAVO...what a wonderful tribute to all who suffered and a wonderful birthday to you too dear Virgo...you're right, us picky Virgos gotta stick together!!!

That ol' 60 is gittin' closer every year and what is 60 anyway...just a number, one day atta time is what my book reads.

Be well and have fun...
sharon

Nana Trish is Living the Dream said...

Happy Birthday Dear Friend and Poet, I hope you have had a great day. Even though it is a sad day to many it still is the day that the Lord has made. It's your special day and so many members of your family. Us September girls are special!!!

MuseSwings said...

Willow! Thank you for the birthday wishes and the very appropriate quote!

September ladies, thank you both for stopping by! I've been in the 60's for a few years now, Sharon. It's not bad at all over here at all - more of the same, just a bit further along the path. Yes, Trish - us September girls are very special!

ChaChaneen said...

Happy Birthday! Stop by my blog, I've got an award for you!

Marie Reed said...

What a wild birthday to have! Ohhhh my goodness!

Amanda said...

I hope you had a great birthday! Thanks for stopping by my blog. I love your poem, it's so touching. Thank you :)

MuseSwings said...

Amanda, thank you for popping over to my blog as well! I did have a great birthday, thank you.

Janeen! Thank you so much! I love it!

Marie, it is an interesting day for a birthday now, but celebrating live is a good thing!

Stanley said...

Happy Belated Birthday to you!!!

It nice to hear something joyful happening on 9/11 despite the tragic incident that happened on the same date.

MuseSwings said...

Thank you Stanley and thank you for stopping by for a visit!

Postcardy said...

Hipe you have a happy birthday anyway.

dmarks said...

Great 9/11 post.

Sparky said...

Now, that was pretty. Happy birthday gal. Hope you have many, many more full love, happiness, good health and prosperity.

Snap said...

Happy Birthday to you. Yes, we shall remember 9-11 for sad reasons, but we must celebrate life also. Lovely poem. Celebrate YOU!

Chris Overstreet said...

Thanks for (re)posting this, and happy birthday!

Sheila said...

A very happy birthday to you! I sometimes think there can't be a day left in the calendar that doesn't signify great sadness for someone, somewhere. We do need to focus on the positive and, as you say, celebrate life..

Paul van Yperen said...

Hartelijk gefelicteerd met uw verjaardag, or happy birthday from Amsterdam.

Margo said...

Happy Birthday! That must be a very strange feeling to have this birthday... kind of hard to make it all about YOU. Well, it still IS. We got married on Nov. 22, the anniversary of JFK's assassination. I remember at the reception two people couldn't wait to tell me - as if I didn't already figure that one out. It was over 25 years later, and nobody named it 11/22

♥ Braja said...

It's all a matter of consciousness, isn't it? Death, disease, trauma, and suffering were always happening on that day before 9/11---you just weren't aware of it. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? You decide...

Nice post...

judipatootie said...

My 25 year old Neice has this Birthday.. she really has a hard time with it..I sent her a link to your lovely poem

Happy Belated Birthday,

Evelyn Yvonne Theriault said...

This is one of the most powerful poems I've read in reference to that day.
Thank you for sharing.
Evelyn in Montreal