As a three year old,
everything was a mystery.
I didn’t know of the
innocent victims.

Blurry memories
show the surrealness.
Streets were empty,
everyone was hiding,
playing a giant game of hide and seek.
I did not understand.

Now, I understand.
Heavy wounds
left deep scars on our country.

Now, I understand:
at the 9/11 memorial
with dispersed granite benches
one name
inscribed on each
a victim who lost a life.

This is a place for their families to grieve,
a place to remember,
a place that made me understand the tragedy of 9/11.