September Suite

“First Writing Since” by Suheir Hammad (2001)

Suheir Hammad is an American poet of Palestinian heritage. In “First Writing Since,” she explores her immediate reactions to the September 11, 2001 attacks. She expresses grief, suffering, and fear of racial violence her brothers could face in the aftermath if the attackers looked like them. As intimate as “September Suite,” Hammad takes the reader on her own journey of fear, rage, and gratitude.

“Photograph from September 11” by Wisława Szymborska, translated by Clare Cavanagh (2005)

Lauded Polish poet Szymborska wrote this ekphrasis (using words to describe a work of art) in response to the famous photograph “The Falling Man” by Richard Drew. Szymborska meditates on the man frozen in time in front of the World Trade Center, wondering about her responsibility as an artist to the person in the photograph.

“won’t you celebrate with me” by Lucille Clifton (1993)

One of Clifton’s most famous poems, “won’t you celebrate with me” is a poem about triumph against all odds. Du Bois’s influence is evident in this poem as she reflects on how she crafted a life for herself, despite being born “both nonwhite and woman.” The bright tone and victorious theme have made this poem a rallying cry for nonwhite women everywhere.

“Phenomenal Woman” by Maya Angelou (1978)

Victorious and woman-centered as is much of Clifton’s poetry, “Phenomenal Woman” is Maya Angelou’s poem exploring the wonders of her physical form. The poet responds to the off-page voice of a detractor, noticing how her self-love aggravates onlookers and insisting on it anyway.