POETRY BLOG 25

“Recalling 9/11” 

“9/11” is inextricably linked with the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre in New York.

In September 1979, I was fortunate to enjoy a business trip to New York to discuss progress on a development project with company colleagues at the General Foods HQ. One evening my project partner entertained me for dinner in a restaurant on the 107^th floor of the World Trade Centre. The Restaurant was aptly named: “Window on the World” and afforded spectacular views across the New York Skyline.

In September 2001, I was working away in the humbler setting of my Banbury office of the same company, but whose name had since changed to Kraft.  The secretary came into the office and simply said “tune into the CNN news channel on your computer”. To my horror I saw the damage caused by the first impact. I then saw the second impact and the consequences of this terrible attack, as buildings collapsed, and dust clouds raced through the streets - ultimately, with a massive loss of life.

Later that afternoon my Vice President appeared in my office and said: “What are you going to do for us Roger”? I knew what he meant: and so, the following day I led some prayers and a short reflection for the Research department.

In September 2008, I visited New York to attend the institution of a clerical friend to a church on Long Island. Tom had been the Rector of the church (American Episcopal Church) we attended when we lived in Munich. During that visit we went down to Ground Zero just as the work on rebuilding was starting.

We also visited St Paul's Chapel, which was located just 100 yards from the original Trade Centre and now known as “The Chapel that Stood”. I picked up a printed card whilst there; on it was the following poem which had been written in 2002, one year on from the disaster. Inside the Chapel on the walls hung a board with the quote:” St Paul’s Chapel is an oasis of heaven in the midst of hell” (Gail Douglas NY Police Dept.)

This poem for me is a statement or resilience, community spirit and hope.

But I will let the words speak to you.

St Pauls Chapel

It stood. Not a window broken. Not a stone dislodged.
It stood when nothing else did.
It stood when terrorists brought September down.
It stood among myths. It stood among ruins.
To stand was its purpose, long lines prove that.
It stands, and around it now, a shrine of letters,
poems, acrostics, litter of the heart.
It is the standing people want:
To grieve, serve and tend
celebrate the lasting stone of St. Paul's Chapel.

And deep into its thick breath, the largest banner
fittingly from Oklahoma climbs heavenward
with hands as stars, hands as stripes, hands as a flag;
and a rescuer reaches for a stuffed toy
to collect a touch;
and George Washington's pew doesn't go unused.
Charity fills a hole or two.
It stood in place of other sorts.
It stood when nothing else could.
The great had fallen, as the brute hardware came down.
It stood.

J. Chester Johnson ( 2002)

Below is an extract from the St Pauls Website which is apposite to the poem and the role of the chapel.

St. Paul’s Chapel, located in Lower Manhattan was constructed in 1766, and is the oldest church building in Manhattan. Located less than 100 yards from the World Trade Center site, it became known as “The Little Chapel That Stood”, after it survived the collapse of the Twin Towers on 9/11.  

St. Paul’s Chapel became a haven for rescue and recovery workers at Ground Zero. More than 5,000 volunteers worked long hours at the church, cleaning, serving hot meals, and providing comfort to all who came to the church for rest and refuge. 

The poet, Chester Johnson, who was one of those volunteers, also wrote:

“What St. Paul represented to us and to the recovery workers was the reverse of what happened at Ground Zero,” said Johnson. “There was so much hate and evil in the attacks and St. Paul’s was a fountain of hope.”

Contributed by Roger Verrall

September 2021