Snake wraps round twin towers
winding its way up
(this a stealthy helix)
while wrong flies in on wings of righteousness
praying for death

Wife carries a terrible tiny bundle—
toothbrush and comb from bathroom cabinet—
and joins a line that snakes along a street-valley in Lower Manhattan,
(this a helix of despair)
while spiraling lamentation winds its way up

Toothbrush and comb carry a terrible tiny bundle—
strand of DNA that wraps round the staff of life
winding its way up
(this a double helix)
for testing in the laboratories of Lower Manhattan
to tell wife which bits beneath steel rods and rubble
are spattered spouse
whose soul wraps round twin towers
winding its way up

Twin towers shine shadows in the valley of death,
moments ago abounding with tiny bundles—
men and women, now mites teeming in terror
winding their way down a red-lit smoking staircase
(this a helix to hell)
stampeding for Lower Manhattan
not wanting to be bits beneath steel rods and rubble
not wanting to be microscopic double-helixes
morselized in toothbrushes and combs

Snake wraps round twin towers of death
winding its way up
(this a helix of hate)
scooping rubble and steel rods of rage
for rebuilding twin towers into war

September 15/2001