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Remembering 9/11: 20 Years later, a poetic reflection

Never Forget: 3News Contributor Chris Webb shares a spoken-word reflection, 20 years after the day that changed America.

CLEVELAND — 20 years, the trajectory of the world changed drastically when the United States was attacked by terrorists on Sept. 11, 2001. Thousands of lives were lost; husbands, wives, sons, daughters, mothers, fathers-- all taken too soon. Gone, but never forgotten.

This week, WKYC has highlighted stories remembering 9/11

Below, 3News contributor Chris Webb shares a transcript of his poem in memory of the fateful day, and the years of struggle and perseverance that followed. 

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"20 years back, an unremarkable work week shifted to chaos

A bland Tuesday soon turned deadly, an unknown group became famous

A storm rolled over our country and sent shockwaves through the globe

But it began as just a normal morning 20 years ago

Sleepy shops opened, coffee brewed, commuters left their homes and traveled

Unaware of the depravity that soon would be unraveled

That morning school bells and campuses began daily endeavors

The last moments before our entire trajectory severed

Before soldiers sent response, and mourning took our nation’s peace

Before our ways of trusting changed through trauma’s that still haven’t ceased

Before our policies and laws shifted, our government and land

Before prevention and defense became the chief path of our plans

Before things exponentially increased in ways I can’t display

Before the complex fallout that I struggle to track, and relay

While I can’t measure the full impact, or far-reaching politics,

What I can do is stop and pay respects to those people we miss

The ones we lost, who left their houses Tuesday morning in routine

Who boarded flights, or went to work with passion, family, and dreams

Who never thought that infamy sat on those calendars and clocks

I’ll say these words for them, the souls with potential yet left unlocked

The children who saw from TV’s that grew and became soldiers from it

The families who held their screens because their loved ones felt earth plummet

The friends, co-workers, the firefighters, mother’s, sons and fathers

The police, the daughters, doctors, cousins, ones who searched for hours

The humanity in chaos, the prayer circles in the storm

The hands that reached into the flames, the arms that pulled hope from the storm

The hearts that broke but still beat brave, let’s pause and please reflect on them

Because these 20 years have changed us all, but their pain has no end

And let’s honor the ones who died by holding close to ones who live

Let our tribute be to be kind, to cherish life, and to forgive,

Let’s carry on with strength and peace, and let love be our only debt

As we march on, let's show with our actions that we never forget."

MORE REMEMBERING 9/11 COVERAGE:

   

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