Poems for Patriotism After Sept. 11, 2001

"For America" by Jack Buck

Jack Buck, a U.S. sportscaster, wrote the poem "For America" after the attacks. He read the poem at the Sept. 17 Cardinal's baseball game in St. Louis, which was the first day of games for Major League Baseball after the attacks. The poem is a free verse construction defending America's right to retaliation in the defense of national security.

Robert Pinsky, former poet laureate of the United States, wrote the poem "9/11" for the Washington Post Magazine in September of 2002, a year after the attacks. The poem is composed of 17 three-line stanzas. It begins with Americans watching news reports of the attack and moves on to encompass various American figures such as Will Rogers, Frederick Douglas and Emily Dickinson. The poem's main focus is the images and symbols Americans use to create a cohesive national identity before, during and after the attacks.

Szymorska's poem is a controversial composition describing photographs of individuals who leaped from the Twin Towers. The poem was considered for placement in the memorial installation at the New York attack site, but was rejected because of its distressing nature. Yet the poem is also hailed as a depiction of the unending grief of the attack's victims and their loved ones. While Szymborska's poem is not traditionally patriotic, it does serve as a continuing reminder of the people who died.

Roger Robiceau's poem is written for young audiences and is sometimes used in the classroom to reinforce lessons about patriotism. This poem talks about the courage and bravery of Americans, including soldiers sent to war after the attacks and rescuers present during the attacks. The poem asks the reader to think about the hard decisions and fear these individuals face and to pray for them and their safety. The poem has a simple composition of eight two-line rhyming stanzas that is easy for children to read and contemplate.