Now we read from the / book of the dead, stilled voices / we must always hear.

Twoku: Read the book / stilled voices we must / always hear.

(Pictures taken at the 9-11 Memorial named “Rising”, in Valhalla, NY)

Valhalla? The town is a fitting place for a memorial; its name sounds like it might translate to “Hall of Valor” in English, but the actual meaning is from the old Norse “Valhöll” which translates to “hall of the slain”. For this memorial on this day, Valhalla is a place to remember and honor the fallen warriors, who were slain without knowing they were in battle, and the brave heroes who died trying to rescue them…