A PHOTOGRAPH FROM SEPT. 11
They jumped from the burning stories, down
-- one, two, a few more
higher, lower.
A photograph captured them while they were alive and now preserves them
above ground, toward the ground.
Each still whole
with their own face
and blood well hidden.
There is still time,
for their hair to be tossed,
and for keys and small change
to fall from their pockets. They are still in the realm of the air, within the places
which have just opened.
There are only two things I can do for them
-- to describe this flight
and not to add a final word.
I'm a fan of Szymborska's work, Poems, New and Collected: 1957-1997 and thought the poem A Photograph from Sept. 11 extremely moving, especially what I felt was a powerful ending. A friend had a differing opinion about the ending. The poem reminds me of Chekhov. He was a master at painting a picture without the editorials. In the same way, I felt Ms. Szymborska's decision to describe and not comment increased the power of the poem.
Poems, New and Collected: 1957-1997
