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September 11 Tribute and Poem?

Date Added: Sept. 21, 2003
Last Updated: Jan. 13, 2005

The free exchange of ideas is one of the many aspects that make the Internet a wonderful place - but only if those ideas are yours to exchange. Unfortunately the easy access to information on the Web often means that plagiarism runs rampant. This chain letter is a touching tribute to those lost in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, but the poem it contains is used without the author's consent.

Subject: FW: 9-11-01 (Email not broken)

This has not been broken since 9/11/01, please keep it going...

This has been kept alive and moving since 9/11.

In memory of all those who perished this morning; the passengers and the pilots on the United Air and AA flights, the workers in the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and all the innocent bystanders.

Our prayers go out to the friends and families of the deceased.

IF I KNEW

If I knew it would be the last time
That I'd see you fall asleep,
I would tuck you in more tightly
and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.

If I knew it would be the last time
that I see you walk out the door,
I would give you a hug and kiss
and call you back for one more.

If I knew it would be the last time
I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise,
I would video tape each action and word,
so I could play them back day after day.

If I knew it would be the last time,
I could spare an extra minute
to stop and say "I love you,"
instead of assuming you would KNOW I do.

If I knew it would be the last time
I would be there to share your day,
Well I'm sure you'll have so many more,
so I can let just this one slip away.

For surely there's always tomorrow
to make up for an oversight,
and we always get a second chance
to make everything just right.

There will always be another day
to say "I love you,"
And certainly there's another chance
to say our "Anything I can do?"

But just in case I might be wrong,
and today is all I get,
I'd like to say how much I love you
and I hope we never forget.

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone,
young or old alike,
And today may be the last chance
you get to hold your loved one tight.

So if you're waiting for tomorrow,
why not do it today?
For if tomorrow never comes,
you'll surely regret the day,

That you didn't take that extra time
for a smile, a hug, or a kiss
and you were too busy to grant someone,
what turned out to be their one last wish.

So hold your loved ones close today,
and whisper in their ear,
Tell them how much you love them
and that you'll always hold them dear

Take time to say "I'm sorry,"
"Please forgive me," "Thank you," or "It's okay."
And if tomorrow never comes,
you'll have no regrets about today.

Send this to at least 10 people to show your support.

PLEASE DON'T BREAK IT!!!!!!

This poem is posted all over the Internet and predates the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks by more than a decade. Attribution varies from post to post, with many different people taking - or being given - credit for it.

Originally titled "Tomorrow Never Comes," it was actually written by Norma Cornett Marek in 1989 as, in her words, "a tribute to a beloved child I lost, in hopes it would cause people to never be careless or too busy to let our loved ones know we love them."

"I am honored that it was used for the Sept. 11th tragedy as a tribute but no one asked me to use it," Marek told BreakTheChain.org. "I really do not see why this certain poem is so coveted. It is a mother's heart speaking, not a great poem by any means, yet many seem to think so."

She's flattered by the attention the poem has garnered, but saddened by people who try to claim it as their own, change it or use it without her permission. "I do not like the use of any of my work without written consent from me," she said. "As of this moment I give anyone permission who wishes to use the poem to go ahead as long as I get credit and the date is correct."

Norma Marek passed away July 18, 2004, after a prolonged battle with cancer. Before her death, she began working with singer/songwriter Ray Paquet to put her words to music. The song was completed in May 2004 and Norma got to hear it before she died. You can listen to the track on Paquet's web site, referenced below.

Break this chain by giving credit where credit is due.

References: Heart Whispers by Norma Marek, Ray Paquet - "Tomorrow Never Comes"

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