ONE SINGLE DAY – 2
One single day
in the month of September
changed our lives in a way
we will always remember.
As the bright morning sun
lit heaven's blue with grace
a mosaic of people
hustled a Tuesday's pace.
With briefcase in hand
he bid us Good day
he ran for the bus
in his usual way.
His back the last sight
as he raced up the street
he had somewhere to be
someone to meet.
One single day
became like no other
it shook up our world
stealing my lover.
Bolts from the blue
ripped through the skies
four missiles plunged forth
as planes their disguise.
The brave souls on board
tried to turn them around
for they knew in that moment
]their fate was profound.
He made it so well
the trains all on time
he was happy, I know
he was in before nine.
The elevator he boarded
rose to floor ninety-seven
Coltrane in his headset
he went straight to heaven.
He wasn't a hero
with a badge on his wing,
simply a hard-working family man
doing the noble thing.
That one single day
launched a search for our missing
the TV's and papers
never a moment dismissing.
We did not grieve alone
nor could we hide
his leaving this place
was announced worldwide.
The evil that took him -
a force misunderstood
that in spite of their plan
the result would bring good.
We banded together
we held our heads high
we climbed from our grief
new bonds we did tie.
Folks don't like to linger
pause in pain for long
put them in crisis
they'll always grow strong.
Twenty-five years
has not dimmed the cause,
we've rallied as peers
enduring the pause-
because-
While institutional agendas
allow them to hide
the planners and powers
have yet to be tried.
This day of infamy
abides an unbroken promise
if there's power in poetry
there will be truth-
-and justice
Our resolve unwavering and true
shall eclipse the shadowed paradigm
lest no day erase you-
-from the memory of time
Each day we strive
to keep things in place
we stand for our freedom
we keep up the race.
A brief moment in time
brings us together to pray
to honor and heal
on this-
one-
single day.
© 2026 Deborah Garcia, All rights reserved.
Im so sorry for the loss of your amazing husband and son. Prayers of peace for you and your remaining son. 25 years later, I still hear stories if the lost that I hadn’t heard before. Your story is one of them today. Your poem is absolutely beautiful! I heard it on ABC this morning as you read it. It made me stop to find you. My heart is with you. my children were 17 months, 5.5 years, 6.5 years at the time. My heart broke that day and everyday since for all the lost and their families. I hope you feel peace and pray for you and your son, and the memory of your husband and your son. 💜
Dear Deborah,
I made a promise when I responded to Ground Zero as a civilian EMT. I am keeping that promise. I was encouraged to hear your poem, the part: “While institutional agendas allow them to hide, the planners and powers have yet to be tried. “. You are not alone. You are an inspiration to those of us still fighting for that justice at all costs, and I pray you will be a witness for your husband and son when that does happen.
Indira
–Time is nothing, timing is everything.
Hello – I also heard you read your poem live and wanted to thank you for sharing with us all your ongoing story of incredible loss, but I also wanted to thank you for the beautiful and clever way you arranged your writing in a poem that is both touching and evocative. I see you have additional writings posted here and will read those going forward.
I find it difficult to express my sympathy and identify with your pain in any way that would be meaningful. I’ll simply say I am so very sorry for your losses.
Kind regards – Ginger
Thank you.