On 11 September 2001, a BBC radio programme discussing the song ‘Somewhere over the Rainbow’ was interrupted by breaking news from New York City
Watching CNN, the screen fills again
and again with a long plume of smoke
my television is the sky, its camera a bird
circling a plane crashing into a tower
Somewhere
a slim needle piercing the eye of a camel
over the rainbow
windows curve and disappear, moulting glass
skies are blue
yet the building stands –
and the dreams
or did it sway?
that you dare to dream
and the people – where are they?
really do come true
a plucked skyline fills the room
one day I’ll wake
I guess at what we cannot see
and rub my eyes
feet pounding down the stairs
in that land
counting each breath to safety
beyond the skies
until the towers begin to fall
first the inside, then the outer wall
melt like lemon drops
the camera sinks, a body slips
away above the chimney tops
more black dots dive – none can fly –
that’s where
did you close your eyes?
you’ll find me
Upogoupogo 