I remember being on my way to work at 5:30am. I was listening to KROQ and Kevin & Bean announce over the radio that a plane hit a building. I’d never heard them sound so somber. A short time later I had arrived at work and we were watching the news. Another plane hits the second tower. My  heart sank and all of those thousands of people haven’t left my mind since. Today marks 9 years of this tragic day and all of these poor souls will be in my heart until my time is here.

On 9/11 before I went to bed I wrote this remembrance and painted this scene from the news which left a lasting burning vision in my mind.

So here I lie among the waste
A nation of the great and here I lay
I was taken away from this place
Taken away from my family by this disgrace
Here I am spent amongst the soot
Treading on this land with my weighted foot
Sunk in my place for the rest of this day
My people around me unable to save
This is my final prayer before I go
Into the abyss into the unknown
I was taken away from this place
Without my consent you’ve shattered my space
It all happened so very fast
Everyone got out but I was last
I could have escaped but I had no chance
I felt my world move beneath
All the frantic people below on the street
I knew it was over I’m the victim in their path
I was taken away by the attack
Although I’m gone I say this to you
I am in a better place now and I’ll always miss you.

-charlee christian nine eleven two thousand & one