I visited the Ground Zero memorial for the first time, this summer, during our week working with A House on Beekman. I had medium-low expectations about it.

It’s essentially perfect. These really spectacular in-ground fountains mark the footprint of the towers.

I had a moment, with some song on my ipod, that I can’t even recall now. It’s weird the human inclination to relate or connect in grief, even to those things for which we have very little personal association.

Straining to own the tragedy.

You might call it empathy. Or narcism.

I’m certainly always poised to be “moved,” so to speak. A good sermon or pre-game speech or convocation or Celine Dion song.

This:

In memory of a truly difficult day, whether your grief is real or put on, we celebrate life.

Written and performed by theipoetlaureate for the 10th Anniversary, in 2011. Music produced by dj clutch.