top of page

Yankee Pear

  • Writer: Jubilee Lipsey
    Jubilee Lipsey
  • Sep 12
  • 1 min read

(for 9/11)

ree

Back in 2012, I was finishing an independent study in poetry in college, and I wrote this after being inspired by the story of the pear tree that was nearly destroyed by the collapse of the Twin Towers in New York on 9/11. The tree was restored and placed in a nearby park to regain its full strength. I was so moved by the greater symbolism of the story--new life from ashes, strength from destruction. It's the sort of thing that has always triggered the need to write. So, I wrote:


Yankee Pear

(for 9/11)


The strange fire choked volcanism,

spat people.

I saw it and thought my guard duty had ended.

Hostile shadows turned the buildings against me,

cleaving layers of years

to bleed in sap.

I split down, 

third tower to match.

Splintered sides became

burial ground for shrapnel.

 

When oxygen returned, I breathed in grey

and stood by for other missing

living. My roots heard distress

and I dug deep, willing water to them –

hoping seeds would crawl out of the rubble

and flourish.

 

I strained dry bones

to the sky, bare arms up,

and I awoke in heaven--

a park of green to clothe my wounds,

and raise a patriot again.


--Jubilee Meehan, circa 2012


 
 
 

Recent Posts

See All
Takeaways from the CK Memorial

You’re never too “big” or too busy to plug into a local church and be discipled; be willing to ask God how this needs to look for you in...

 
 
 

Comments


Visit my YouTube channel for publisher interviews, book discussions, writing tips, and more!

© 2023 by The Book Lover. Proudly created with Wix.com

  • YouTube
  • Facebook
    bottom of page