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.
Translated By: Clare Cavanagh And Stanislaw Baranczak
The photograph halted them in life, and now keeps them above the earth toward the earth. a truth pictures so well. tony
Ohh So Powerful To Heart! ! ! ! ! And Mind! ! ! ! ! The Pictures Painted In Every Word And Line! ! ! ! ! Thank You Ever So Much For Sharing This! ! ! ! ! Endless 1OS! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! +++++
It hurts to read these lines well written as they may be. How many years must pass before 9/11 doesn't hurt anymore? Do those of those who were alive then have to die and be in our graves before it stops hurting? I don't think so. I was not alive at the Alamo, the French Revolution, the Trail of Tears, D-Day, the Holocaust- but they still hurt as if I were. I think we need to stop adding these burdens to history- they're too heavy, they've turned my soul into desert and my heart into a vale of tears. But we need to be reminded- we need to have tears in our eyes- or we will never get better
Great poem, true but your words about it are as piercing! How long a handful of maniac's will hold our Mother Earth at ransom!
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
The photograph halted them in life, and now keeps them above the earth toward the earth. the great tragic story which changed political life in this world. tony