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cc&d (v230) (the March 2012 Issue



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In Witness

Ice Gayle Johnson

911
Who’s going to catch these people?
I read the same paragraph over, and over.
Tuesday morning at 8:30 I was on my way,
to drink a cappuccino, and read for an hour before the gym!

911
I read the same lines over and over!

911
The woman on the corner of Jane and Hudson said, my neighbor went back to work this morning, after being on maternity leave.
I know she works in one of the towers, but, I don’t know which one!



or for who!!! I left and continued walking.

911
The first plane had already hit the South Tower 12 floors down from the roof.
I thought it was a waste of time to continue to read, and I paid for my cappuccino and left.

911
I stood paralyzed,
watching the second plane,
turn on it’s side, and hit the North Tower 20 floors down from the roof. I left and continued walking.
Crossing Hudson St.
a man came towards me screaming, it’s a terrorist, it’s a terrorist attack, and I looked at him and said, don’t be ridiculous!
A terrorist attack,
at the gym, on the ecliptic step, facing
the Hudson River, I watch people moving in tandem, migrating up from Battery Park, stopping in, asking to use the phone,
Serge
gym, on West Street was the gym I belonged too.

Don’t be ridiculous, don’t say another word!
Can you believe this, one of the trainer’s said.
I want to call home, someone said, who stopped in, and let my family
know I’m ok.  
You see; Manhattan was on lock down, no one could enter the city, and no one could leave.
Serge gym on West street, and West 12th. Facing the Hudson River
Stood in witness while the towers discinigrated before my eyes.


Whose going to catch these people!
Whose going, over and,
whose going to catch, whosewhose
Catching these people toppling, out of
windows, looking like stick figures,
Flippingflipping flipping over, with rigid hands stretched out.
Plastic looking figures without motion,
flailing in the air,
lifeless!
they were lifelesslifeless, figures without stretched hands,
With blank faces


911
I can’t get off this
machine!
I can’t stop thinking
I can’t stop,
Whose peoplefalling, people,
Falling out of windows, stick figures
Without emotion?

I’m running, and I can’t get off this step!!
White powered suits, marching like zombie’s
rigid, and slow, and lifeless.rigid and slowlifeless
Life— less people

I want to get off this machine
I want these people to stop falling
In front of my eyes, and I want
Shooting balls of fire to.  to stop shooting,
I want this ball of fire to stop ,
I want this ball of fire to stop shooting
I wantwantwant this I wantwant
I wantthis
I wantthis
This to stop, I want this to stop,
stopto stopto  stop
Makeit, makeit,  STOP

I watch both towers crumble together, fall in on each other.
Wipe away any evidence of yesterday, pulverized concrete shoots up with
Suits, ties, dresses, mothers, fathers, uncles, aunts, grandparents, and the breath of the unborn.



Scars Publications


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