Seshadri 's poem " The Disappearances " deals with a " cataclysm " in " American history " and the baffling nature of loss . The poem was written in response to Seshdari 's memories of John F. Kennedy 's assassination , but not published until '' The New Yorker '' magazine printed it on its back page following the September 11 attacks . The '' New Yorker '' 's poetry editor , Alice Quinn , said that the poem " ... summoned up , with acute poignance , a typical American household and scene ... The combination of epic sweep ( including the quoted allusion to one of Emily Dickinson 's Civil War masterpieces , from 1862 ) and piercing , evocative detail is characteristic of the contribution Seshadri has made to the American canon . " > It was also subsequently included in The Best American Poetry 2003
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Vijay Seshadri