Lines Written To The Bystander At The World Trade Center Bomb, February 1993

New Yorker, New Yorker

Looking on at the camera

While the Brit spouted on

About fire and fear

(We saw smoky victims),

I was sure you would pose –

Brash and Yankee –

And stare us all out

As the building burned;

But you spurned your minute’s fame

And left. Turned and left.

Christ! What audacity!

You might just have shrugged

A little, too, as you sauntered off

Into the real light.