Where was I? In the Panier, working in a pottery shop.
Onze Septembre I will always remember
It was the day all of America trembled
On the radio is where I heard it first
and realized that day I understood the
language of French
But I couldn’t believe what it said, so
I asked a client that stood looking in a daze
and knew she heard what I heard
I asked her if she spoke English
Not looking at me she nodded her head
She translated what I had already known
Somebody was fucking up America
my home
I gave her a cigal
They say they are good luck
Thanks for her translating something
so fucked up
In silence we stood
She left
But I know she will never forget me
or I because of Onze Septembre
I stood in silence…then locked up the shop
went to the corner where there is a TV bar
I ordered a beer and scotch whiskey
turned from the smiling Arabs
and looked up at the TV
and saw what you saw and wondered
how did they get such good pictures
I looked at the time that was on my watch
and counted back the hours between
America and France
My thoughts were interrupted by the
sounds of laughter whistles and
applauding thunder behind me
as I watched the Twin Towers
fall to the streets
I stood in awe as an Arab
swept around my feet
He looked at me and said with
satisfied Arab French Marseillais philosophy
“Cest comme ca”
No it’s not like that I was thinking
It’s nine something in the morning
There are people in there
Non Non Ce ne pas comme ca
Onze Septembre I will always remember
the day me and all America trembled
For a solid week or a year
I don’t know which
I sat by my telephone waiting
Onze September I will always remember
I was not able to call home for three days
I waited and worried and could not
eat a thing
not even a joint
nothing nothing nothing helped
My daughter was finally able to call me
But what could I say but Nikki
you okay and
how did they get such good pictures
Onze September I will always remember
Because from that day on
the world would miss the
Happy Go Lucky American
