Into the darkness
The most unusual book about the terrorist attack of Sept. 11, 2001 is due out in September from publisher Andrews McMeel. It's a book-length (76 pp.) epic poem called "Bikeman," by Thomas F. Flynn. Flynn was a CBS News writer who lived in Manhattan. On the morning the World Trade Center towers were hit by hijacked airliners, he jumped on his bicycle and headed for the scene.
What he found and experienced was a round-trip like that of Dante, and the hellish scenes around the towers eventually prompted him to write "Bikeman," in 38 blank verse cantos. It is surely the first epic poem with an introduction by Dan Rather. Here is a sample, from an advance copy:
XXVI
SHEET OF ASH
"Which way is the river?" I ask as I stumble
where the ground rises and
another curb falls.
A new voice answers, "This way."
I trust the voice but wonder:
"How does he know?
What can he see that I cannot?"
I walk as if inside a pillow,
in the muffled silence
that follows the tower's collapse....
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I have heard glowing reviews of Tom Flynn's book and have pre-ordered both the audio and hard cover version. I saw some of the video clips and part of Mr. Flynn's interview with Dan Rather. A toast to Americans and to Tom Flynn.