Four Poems: Katrina's Pathway Harvest of Apoplectic Horses ((Dedicated to: Katrina)) crisis) It has happened before: Nearby and afar, Where the four-horses of Apocalypse With their flaming nostrils Breathed in the fury of the winds Only to vomit out, disaster; -- Then galloped away, Against pale faces!...
#824 9/2/05 The Vanishing [Dedicated to: Katrina] For a time, I left my body-- Behind me.
Still, I resided in my darkroom-- "There is good in the world," I said, The spirit of the world begins To move--slowly, after Katrina.
I closed my eyes, thinking New Orleans, Mississippi (a prayer, if only for one).
Women's hands, loaves of bread...
Appear...
eyes of men tired with dread Burgundy faces, huddled Together...
appear.
I say: thank God it's not winter.
The world is silent (mostly) A few friends hear our cry But they are just shadows Turned away from the sun.
The only thing worse than death, Is this--the vanishing.
#825 9/2/05 Bones in Water (The Gem of the South; Katrina) There once was this gem Down along the Mississippi (The Big Easy, New Orleans) A gem, all wanted to touch: Now in silent waters, like Atlantis; The city in the dark: Once the blossom of the South, It cannot stand up right now.
Broken to its knees, with ease In the winds of the hurricane: Katrina's pathway: bones and ravage.
#826 9/2/06 Doomed to Live [Katrina] Doomed to live Are those who survived--? Katrina's massive outcry The defiance of Mother Nature Against mankind--.
Thus, her ultimatum, her Remorseless, implacable Unalterable despair-- Gave her skeleton to create A great catastrophe For humankind...
Her face was gaunt, with Patched gray, colored dead With tarnished braids around Her eyelids--unaimed, calm Her voice, not even rose-- She destroyed New Orleans Her golden rival!...
#827 9/3/05