"September 1, 1939" & September 11, 2001, A Day We Should Never Forget

I couldn't help but comment on Auden's "September 1, 1939." It had such a resemblance to September 11th for me. Growing up a mere ten minutes away from Manhattan and waking up to see the beautiful city skyline was something I cherished. This particular poem of Auden's was recited during the time. It held great resonance with those affected by the attacks.

I remember every single moment of that day. I recall the sirens, the smoke, the horror, and the helplessness. The people around me clinging to anything they could: a cross, a church, their loved ones, strangers. No one had answers, so we looked to each other for support. It was a time in my life when I felt a true sense of community in the United States. We were all on the same page. When I moved to Pennsylvania that summer no one understood. It was almost like they didn't take it seriously or care about the monstrosities that occurred in our own country.

Since 2001 I refused to look at footage, newspapers, or be part of anything that discussed that day. It was only this September when I realized that I was trying to suppress what had occurred around me at age thirteen. By not watching and listening to what happened on September 11, 2001, I thought I could make it disappear from my memory like it never happened.

Reading "September 1, 1939" for the first time since I heard it recited on NPR in 2001 made me remember how I felt on September 11th. Each stanza contributed to a feeling or happening of that day. I couldn't believe how relatable the poem is. Stanza four in particular struck me most.

Into this neutral air
Where blind skyscrapers use
Their full height to proclaim
The strength of Collective Man,
Each language pours its vain
Competitive excuse:
But who can live for long
In an euphoric dream;
Out of the mirror they stare,
Imperialism's face
And the international wrong.

Though Auden is reflecting on the position of the U.S. before their involvement during WWII, I believe it holds relevance today. The morning of September 11, 2001 was a beautiful day. It was sunny, the temperature was perfect, and everyone seemed to be so happy--as people tend to be during nice weather. My middle school was on a hill that faced the Manhattan skyline. I was sitting at my desk looking out the window while my teacher was taking attendance; that moment was the last time I saw the towers standing. The buildings stood proud; they were powerful, an immediate view of success. Stability! I learned only a few minutes later, when I looked out the window again to see the blackest smoke I'd ever seen, that we were now unstable, powerless, and living in a fairy tale. The United States of America has never been the same since that day.