I've Moved!

Hello wayward traveler - I thank you for visiting my blog.

I have recently moved to Wordpress, so I'll be slowly phasing my 'Blogger' blog out. If you've enjoyed my work and would like to keep seeing it, please go to simonaustinpoetry.wordpress.com and you can continue following me and my poetry.

I look forward to seeing you there :)

Simon.

I've Moved!

Hello wayward traveler - I thank you for visiting my blog.

I have recently moved to Wordpress, so I'll be slowly phasing my 'Blogger' blog out. If you've enjoyed my work and would like to keep seeing it, please go to simonaustinpoetry.wordpress.com and you can continue following me and my poetry.

I look forward to seeing you there :)

Simon.

Wednesday 11 September 2013

September Sisters

Twin sisters, both alike in majesty,
In New Manhattan, where we set this scene,
From arid lands flocks an old enemy,
To scorch the earth of this, a western dream.

From fateful skies the fatal flights descend,
But none the wiser to their pending fate,
The man and child, to happy affairs tend,
Their future sealed beneath a veil of hate.

Through vacant city clouds, their path annulled,
Two silver eagles level out their wings,
And whilst the terror fills their gravely hulls,
No-one below can hear their deathly screams.

Two flying ships set course and sail together,
To meet their end this day in mid September.

In but a flash the metals mute the sound,
And decimates upon the towers' side;
Below, the thunder footfalls head to ground,
Above, two thousand souls are sealed inside.

The fires roar and billow out their clouds,
Their acrid plumes seal misery and death
And to the cornered guiltless they surround;
They watch them choke and breathe their final breath.

But many did not wish to suffer long
And desperate the man faced with his end,
A single step into the skies beyond
Then to the earth he rapidly descends.

And on the ground, no more was felt his pain,
Oh this, the most macabre September rain.

The panic now most widespread and complete,
As crying eyes stare helplessly above,
To watch the trapped wave hopeless little sheets,
And hear them beg for mercy in His love.

But fire angels cannot reach their goals,
As those two sisters fail against the flames,
For many heroes fall, release their souls
To save their fellow innocents this day.

For even the most steadfast cannot stand
In face of such destruction and despair,
These mighty towers buckle on the land
From flying deathblows dealt them from the air.

And when the crippled giants lost their fight,
September sisters crumbled out of sight.

Copyright © 2013 by Simon Austin

United Airlines Flight 175 moments from impact of the South Tower of the World Trade Center
Nearly 3,000 people were killed on September 11th 2001 as a result of terrorist attacks on the U.S.

On September 11th 2001, at 8:46 a.m, five hijackers of the Islamic terrorist group al-Qaeda crashed American Airlines Flight 11 into the World Trade Center's North Tower, and at 9:03 a.m., another five hijackers crashed United Airlines Flight 175 into the South Tower. 


Within two hours, both towers were gone. 

These attacks resulted in the deaths of 2,606 people in the towers or on the ground. The victims included 147 aboard the two planes (from which there were no survivors). In the North Tower 1,355 people at or above the point of impact were trapped and died of smoke inhalation, fell or jumped from the tower to escape the smoke and flames, or were killed in the building's eventual collapse. The destruction of all three staircases in the tower when Flight 11 hit made it impossible for anyone above the impact zone to escape. In the South Tower, one stairwell was left intact after Flight 175 hit, allowing 14 people located on the floors of impact (including one man who saw the plane coming at him) and four more from the floors above to escape. 

At least 200 people fell or jumped to their deaths from the burning towers, landing on the streets and rooftops of adjacent buildings hundreds of feet below. A total of 411 emergency workers died as they tried to rescue people and fight the fires. It was the deadliest incident for firefighters in the history of the United States.

These were the deadliest attacks on U.S. soil in its history, surpassing the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour of 1941. In total, almost 3,000 people died in the attacks on that day, and more than 90 countries lost citizens in the two towers of the World Trade Center.

Thursday 5 September 2013

On with the Show

Drop down the curtain, but leave me on the stage.
Whilst I'm not certain, I'll read on from the page.
The lights are blinding and I can't see the crowd.
Imperfect timing but I'll get through somehow.
This isn't easy, but then what ever is?
I cannot be me, 'til I stop being his.

The crowd is roaring, though I have yet to speak.
My heartbeat soaring, my constitution weak.
It's time for action, or else I'm down and done.
But my reaction is slow, fatigued and numb.
What can release it and free me of the past.
I, once beneath it, must rise above at last.

But I won't give in, and I have far to go.
So raise the curtain, and let's on with the show.

Copyright © 2013 by Simon Austin

Monday 2 September 2013

She, Mourning

She pressed her hand against the marble, felt its words,
Ran her weathered finger through the crafted names.
Many faces that had long since adventured,
Left for others lingering to bear the pain.

The autumn sun caressed its face and warmed the stone,
She drew it through her skin and let it stay a while.
Her silver head was bowed, her company her own,
To spend a few more moments in her reconcile.

The flowers of the world could not number enough
To brighten up the burden of an ended path,
The petals broke their bonds and crumbled into dust
And left the woman weeping in the aftermath.

And as the overwhelming feelings find their place,
Rested in the fractures of a broken heart,
The tears roll from her eyes and glisten on her face
And once again remind her that she must depart.

She turns and disappears amongst the faceless throng
But unconcerned to why this woman mourns alone.
They'll say, "For many shrines are written for those gone,
So what is one more name etched into waiting stone?"

But pity deep the woman who is fading there,
Staring at the monument that bears his time,
For she has felt a love and lost beyond compare
And now must mourn the cost of it upon the shrine.

Oh pity deep the woman that suffers the strain,
Clawing at the testament that bears another.
For there's no soul on earth that understands the pain,
Or knows the loss condemned upon a grieving mother.

 Copyright © 2013 by Simon Austin

Sunday 1 September 2013

A Little Deeper

Deeper
Just a little more
Don't stop now
You've almost done it
So end it
Make this nonsense go away
To stay is madness
Sadness drives you on
But son, seriously
Mysteriously your mind kids you
Fools you into thinking
You're still wanted
Jolted, stupidity keeps you going
But knowing that there's no point
Disjoint your heart from you head
Instead, think about the hopelessness
Of you
And due your moment of fame
Blame no-one, or nothing
The simple fact is
You are not needed
Anymore
So I implore you, stop it
Just end it
And don't be the weeper
My pitiful son, 
You just need to cut 
A little deeper
And accept the utter hollowness
Of you. My son
Just the utter pointlessness
Of you.

Copyright © 2013 by Simon Austin