Something that seems never to be far from my mind and I’m sure the minds of many others, is the tragedy of Katrina. Perhaps you are wondering why I’m writing about this now after all this time, well not because I heard comments on this just today, no not that. The reason is that it has really never left my mind. Maybe it is because I have a very dear friend whose daughter and her family were victims and lost every single thing that they owned. It was hard to hear of things like that. So when I hear how things are still in such turmoil today, then I know why my thoughts and the thoughts of others are not to be put aside as just something that happened and then forgotten. I am going to share a poem with you that I wrote a week after it all took place.
Five Days on a Rooftop
White flags of fear and hope beneath a pale gray sky
And rooftops become a refuge for those who fear they’ll die
And as the water keeps on rising with no end in sight
People hug their rooftops throughout the blackened night
Daylight brings a reality which knowing cannot deny
The sight of complete destruction beneath a threatening sky
The pains of thirst and hunger are unrelenting in their way
And the water keeps on rising for yet another day
And that which once had been waist deep now reaches the second floor
We thank God for the rooftops we dare not ask for more
And as the stench of rot and human waist permeates the air
Each moment slowly passing turns hope into despair
With belly pains of hunger and lips parched and dry
We wave signs that read “please help us” or it’s certain we shall die
And while we wait for FEMA to help us in our need
We pray to God for a miracle and for the waters to recede
The wailing sounds of sirens and copters over head
Rescue the lonely living and search waters for the dead
And still the water keeps on rising with no end in sight
And people hug their rooftops for another lonely night
Where oh where is FEMA where can they be
There’s destruction all around us and as far as we can see
Katrina in her fury has destroyed everything in sight
And we thank God for the rooftops it’s another lonely night
Sadly from the rooftop we watch our city drown
And still we wait for FEMA who is no where to be found
Something surely has gone wrong something isn’t right
And once more we’ll hug the rooftops for another lonely night.
Your all-too-true poem expressed with intimacy and deep compassion, brought Katrina back to my mind but moreso her victims. We've not seen the end of Katrina as before us, somewhere in our future are her children. Your moving writing, Margaret, cautions through reflection, to be aware and prepared for what we have sowed, we'll reap from an abused earth.
ReplyDeleteThank you, my friend ...
Fondness to you and "B" ... GeeGee
Margaret....I read your poem to Bobbie last night and he was speachless as was I. You are an extremely talented writer and if we did not know that you really wrote that, we would have thought it was a published work of someone else! Really! I mean that! Bobbie just couldn't believe it. It was a touching poem and extremely apropo as they are still rebuilding from that terrible devastation. People lost their homes and their livelihoods and some had to relocate to other states and start anew. It had a profound effect on many, many, lives. Great writing once again my friend! Love you..your cuz
ReplyDeleteVery nice poem as you already have heard it is good that you are shareing your talent with others thru this blog.
ReplyDeleteLater this can all be turned into a book you know. That would be nice I say.