by Mike McCulley - Montesano, Washington
Some days the sun pokes
over the horizon, warming
the treetops, birds call out
the alarm, blossoms open
their night-wraps put on a face
and sing out a fragrance.
Some days it’s the donuts
and black coffee that give me
a bump-start long after the birds
and blossoms have settled
on a scheme. I catch up with
the day’s rhythm, get in synch
with the pivot arm swinging
around, pooka-pooka-pooka
Some days it’s a donut
that’s hard to digest, swirling
around my innards, a big swirl
and sloshing black water
the pivot arm isn’t swinging
ruin is slopping about
no one hears the alarm
no one smells death coming
Saturday, April 15, 2006
134. This Nation United
by Lil Wilson - Spencer, Indiana
WE HAS A NATION IN THE LAND OF THE FREE
MUST BAND TOGETHER IN THE FACE OF TRAGEDY
OFFERING HOPE AND A HELPING HAND
TO OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS ACROSS THIS GREAT LAND.
WHETHER IT BE A GIFT TO HELP REBUILD,OR A SIMPLE PRAYER THAT WILL SURELY BE HEARD
FOR THOSE WHOSE HOPES AND DREAMS ARE SHATTERED
HOW EVER WE HELP WILL SURELY MATTER
WHEN YOU WAKE UP WARM AND SAFE IN YOUR BED
THINK OF ALL WHO ARE LOST AND SO AFRAID
PLEASE OPEN YOUR HEART TO THE MANY WHO
HAVE LOST THEIR HOMES AND LOVED ONES TOO
WE MUST STAND UNITED AND DEVELOP A PLAN
FOR THERE'S STRENGTH IN NUMBERS AS WE JOIN HANDS
THERE IS NO POWER GREATER IN GOD'S PLAN
THAN THE LOVE WE SHOW TO OUR FELLOW MAN
TAKE TIME EACH DAY AND SAY A LITTLE PRAYER
ASKING GOD TO COMFORT ALL THOSE IN DESPAIR
WE HAS A NATION IN THE LAND OF THE FREE
MUST BAND TOGETHER IN THE FACE OF TRAGEDY
OFFERING HOPE AND A HELPING HAND
TO OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS ACROSS THIS GREAT LAND.
WHETHER IT BE A GIFT TO HELP REBUILD,OR A SIMPLE PRAYER THAT WILL SURELY BE HEARD
FOR THOSE WHOSE HOPES AND DREAMS ARE SHATTERED
HOW EVER WE HELP WILL SURELY MATTER
WHEN YOU WAKE UP WARM AND SAFE IN YOUR BED
THINK OF ALL WHO ARE LOST AND SO AFRAID
PLEASE OPEN YOUR HEART TO THE MANY WHO
HAVE LOST THEIR HOMES AND LOVED ONES TOO
WE MUST STAND UNITED AND DEVELOP A PLAN
FOR THERE'S STRENGTH IN NUMBERS AS WE JOIN HANDS
THERE IS NO POWER GREATER IN GOD'S PLAN
THAN THE LOVE WE SHOW TO OUR FELLOW MAN
TAKE TIME EACH DAY AND SAY A LITTLE PRAYER
ASKING GOD TO COMFORT ALL THOSE IN DESPAIR
132. Raise My Scorn
by silverpawpa
Preparing for a national tragedy that in time will come
Stacked across Hope, Arkansas a housing storage sprung
House trailers fill that airfield like a ladder, rung by rung
With this inventory of housing, homeless we wouldn’t be stung
A sea of new roofs abound as you cast a glance around
Twenty five thousand or more not fastened to the ground
Without any children’s laughter or nary a whimper of sound
Only a stupid rule by FEMA halts this national glorious crown
900 million dollars we paid for immediate housing before our eyes
Can’t be dispersed to a flooding zone and again victims' hope dies
Dispersing these homes to Katrina victims, silencing their cries
A few miles north of the coast where trailer cities should take rise
Why pay 900 million and add 25 thousand a month storage to that
Our belfry isn’t empty, it’s filled with stupidity instead of a bat
How many dense bureaucrats should wear a pointed dunce hat
How many gutless politicians on their spineless backs not get a pat
Communities have had house trailers that suffered many a storm
Is their thinking that travel trailers will be towed if a storm is born
Not everyone has a trailer hitch, that never has been the norm
But keeping these homes in storage really does raise my scorn
Hellicane category: 4-POLITICAL
Preparing for a national tragedy that in time will come
Stacked across Hope, Arkansas a housing storage sprung
House trailers fill that airfield like a ladder, rung by rung
With this inventory of housing, homeless we wouldn’t be stung
A sea of new roofs abound as you cast a glance around
Twenty five thousand or more not fastened to the ground
Without any children’s laughter or nary a whimper of sound
Only a stupid rule by FEMA halts this national glorious crown
900 million dollars we paid for immediate housing before our eyes
Can’t be dispersed to a flooding zone and again victims' hope dies
Dispersing these homes to Katrina victims, silencing their cries
A few miles north of the coast where trailer cities should take rise
Why pay 900 million and add 25 thousand a month storage to that
Our belfry isn’t empty, it’s filled with stupidity instead of a bat
How many dense bureaucrats should wear a pointed dunce hat
How many gutless politicians on their spineless backs not get a pat
Communities have had house trailers that suffered many a storm
Is their thinking that travel trailers will be towed if a storm is born
Not everyone has a trailer hitch, that never has been the norm
But keeping these homes in storage really does raise my scorn
Hellicane category: 4-POLITICAL
131. New Orleans
anonymous - Chicago
hurrican katrina is getting closer
next thing you know it's here
its terrorizing houses, families,
hotels and more
nobody can stop it
all we can see is water
i turn to the left, water
i turn to the right, water
water is everywhere
homes are destroyed, families are destroyed
finally it's over. you can see dead bodies floating
depresion
sadness
hopeless
Will New Orleans be recovered?
Hellicane category: SURVIVORS' Tales
hurrican katrina is getting closer
next thing you know it's here
its terrorizing houses, families,
hotels and more
nobody can stop it
all we can see is water
i turn to the left, water
i turn to the right, water
water is everywhere
homes are destroyed, families are destroyed
finally it's over. you can see dead bodies floating
depresion
sadness
hopeless
Will New Orleans be recovered?
Hellicane category: SURVIVORS' Tales
130. No Place To Go
by Dione Porche
I used to think America was the best place to live
Now I wonder with amazement as I see it has nothing to give
I sit with eyes in tears
As the media focuses on our fears
The nation sees our pain
Some companies see wealth to gain
Just as they did the very day after
No help, no guidance, no relief after our disaster
Our resilliant children smile and play,
in crowded shelters, just as if it were any day
We try to smile back and keep them strong
Protecting them from the truth of our nation's wrong
Where is Mr. Bush in our time of need?
Tsunami victims got food in a day and not a week
The politicians all poke fingers to blame
But for us, our dire situation is still the same
Aren't we all surprised? That in our own true need
Our government funds are for other nation's children to feed?
So they quickly give us food stamps, without a refrigerator to store
People cramped in shelters, with small cots on a cold floor
Telephones glued to our ears, hours go by as we sit on hold
Call another telephone number we are told
So, we are glad television ratings are up
But for us, I guess we're stuck
Hellicane category: 4-POLITICAL
I used to think America was the best place to live
Now I wonder with amazement as I see it has nothing to give
I sit with eyes in tears
As the media focuses on our fears
The nation sees our pain
Some companies see wealth to gain
Just as they did the very day after
No help, no guidance, no relief after our disaster
Our resilliant children smile and play,
in crowded shelters, just as if it were any day
We try to smile back and keep them strong
Protecting them from the truth of our nation's wrong
Where is Mr. Bush in our time of need?
Tsunami victims got food in a day and not a week
The politicians all poke fingers to blame
But for us, our dire situation is still the same
Aren't we all surprised? That in our own true need
Our government funds are for other nation's children to feed?
So they quickly give us food stamps, without a refrigerator to store
People cramped in shelters, with small cots on a cold floor
Telephones glued to our ears, hours go by as we sit on hold
Call another telephone number we are told
So, we are glad television ratings are up
But for us, I guess we're stuck
Hellicane category: 4-POLITICAL
129. Katrina X
by Troy Dunn (PoetryByTroy.com)
I can’t remember the last few days
but somethin’ gone wrong
Vandals come - X my home
Children gone
Clouds cover the sun
And water everywhere
Noah must a left
Crawford’s Prince doesn't care
Hands are getting sore
Skin is falling down
Waters left us behind
Kids still not around
The cross on our house
three down below
And 9/9 above
My husband left long ago
Just me, Denae and Taylor
But can’t find ‘em now
The X that won’t come off
Things God just won’t allow
Somen’ happening
Dozers moving in
Splinters to the earth
Nature doesn't sin
I followed it here
A dump I think
Stretches quite a way
Lost into the brink
Learned something new
Found out I can’t die
Tick-a-tock, Tick-a-tock
Orleans to lie
Hellicane category: 4-POLITICAL
I can’t remember the last few days
but somethin’ gone wrong
Vandals come - X my home
Children gone
Clouds cover the sun
And water everywhere
Noah must a left
Crawford’s Prince doesn't care
Hands are getting sore
Skin is falling down
Waters left us behind
Kids still not around
The cross on our house
three down below
And 9/9 above
My husband left long ago
Just me, Denae and Taylor
But can’t find ‘em now
The X that won’t come off
Things God just won’t allow
Somen’ happening
Dozers moving in
Splinters to the earth
Nature doesn't sin
I followed it here
A dump I think
Stretches quite a way
Lost into the brink
Learned something new
Found out I can’t die
Tick-a-tock, Tick-a-tock
Orleans to lie
Hellicane category: 4-POLITICAL
128. Imitation Is The Sincerest Form of Flattery
by Karla Dorman - Burleson, Texas
It's bad enough
that Katrina stormed out of the room
ripping, snorting mad
danger simmering in her dark eyes
throwing things aside
in her sudden display of fury
Rita, her little
sister, unobserved under the bed
was watching with keen
interest: she, who wanted to do
everything that
big sister did, learned her lesson well
She's on the exact
same path Katrina was on, and will be
remembered for
the stress she is causing for those who
are living along
an already storm weary coastline
Hellicane category: SURVIVORS' Tales
It's bad enough
that Katrina stormed out of the room
ripping, snorting mad
danger simmering in her dark eyes
throwing things aside
in her sudden display of fury
Rita, her little
sister, unobserved under the bed
was watching with keen
interest: she, who wanted to do
everything that
big sister did, learned her lesson well
She's on the exact
same path Katrina was on, and will be
remembered for
the stress she is causing for those who
are living along
an already storm weary coastline
Hellicane category: SURVIVORS' Tales
127. that bitch
anonymous
i once met a bitch named katrina
i never knew a ho that was meaner
she came into town
blew all my shit down
and now i'm fu$%^&* with FEMA
Hellicane category: 4-POLITICAL
i once met a bitch named katrina
i never knew a ho that was meaner
she came into town
blew all my shit down
and now i'm fu$%^&* with FEMA
Hellicane category: 4-POLITICAL
126. Alice In Contra Flow Land
by Alice - Metarie, Louisiana
The Contra flow
Gone with the Wind
During the Night
We rode away, so full of fright...
Now all of the people have gone
Taking flight
Out of their city and homes
That have no light...
Even though we were glad to go
We cried when we saw the contra flow...
Some couldn't go, and some wouldn't go
We cried as we heard their stories
On the radio...
What seems like such a long time ago
I'm so glad we rode in the contra flow...
We prayed so hard that they wouldn't show
Our house under water
On the TV news show...
Our family is scattered everywhere
Our friends are over here and over there...
I miss them tonight
Gone from the city
With no light...
Can't you hear her say, "Come back from your flights and fight"
Let my people get back and light all of the lights...
My house was spared, my family and friends too
And soon I'll be going back home to the life I knew...
And if ever I ride in another contra flow
To Austin, Texas, I will go!
Hellicane category: SURVIVORS' Tales
The Contra flow
Gone with the Wind
During the Night
We rode away, so full of fright...
Now all of the people have gone
Taking flight
Out of their city and homes
That have no light...
Even though we were glad to go
We cried when we saw the contra flow...
Some couldn't go, and some wouldn't go
We cried as we heard their stories
On the radio...
What seems like such a long time ago
I'm so glad we rode in the contra flow...
We prayed so hard that they wouldn't show
Our house under water
On the TV news show...
Our family is scattered everywhere
Our friends are over here and over there...
I miss them tonight
Gone from the city
With no light...
Can't you hear her say, "Come back from your flights and fight"
Let my people get back and light all of the lights...
My house was spared, my family and friends too
And soon I'll be going back home to the life I knew...
And if ever I ride in another contra flow
To Austin, Texas, I will go!
Hellicane category: SURVIVORS' Tales
125. Tennessee
by Alice - Metarie, Louisiana
Oh Lord, help me so
My daughter cried in the contra flow
She's in her SUV
She's right there in front of me
We all drove in harmony
As we left from Metarie
The red necks laughed at us as we
Drove through their land on to Tennessee
We tried to run -- we had to go
Away from I-10, and below
Oh Lord, help me so
My daughter cried in the contra flow
It turned out real bad, you know
Back to our homes, we could not go
That old storm did us in
Felt like the world would end
Now we think that we will go
Far and away from the Gulf of Mexico
Close my eyes and all I see
Is my daughter right in front of me
Driving on to Tennessee
Hellicane category: SURVIVORS' Tales
Oh Lord, help me so
My daughter cried in the contra flow
She's in her SUV
She's right there in front of me
We all drove in harmony
As we left from Metarie
The red necks laughed at us as we
Drove through their land on to Tennessee
We tried to run -- we had to go
Away from I-10, and below
Oh Lord, help me so
My daughter cried in the contra flow
It turned out real bad, you know
Back to our homes, we could not go
That old storm did us in
Felt like the world would end
Now we think that we will go
Far and away from the Gulf of Mexico
Close my eyes and all I see
Is my daughter right in front of me
Driving on to Tennessee
Hellicane category: SURVIVORS' Tales
124. KATRINA
by Uncle Doug
K- is for the killer you turned out to be
A- is for the absent, washed out to sea
T- is for the terror that came our way
R- is for the rescued, still alive today
I- is for the impact, you smashed upon our shore
N- is for the numbers, sprayed on the doors
A- is for all of us: the strong, the weak, the rich, the poor, the
brave, the meek, the young, the old, the heroes who came -- how can any of us
ever forget your name. KATRINA
Hellicane category: SURVIVORS' Tales
K- is for the killer you turned out to be
A- is for the absent, washed out to sea
T- is for the terror that came our way
R- is for the rescued, still alive today
I- is for the impact, you smashed upon our shore
N- is for the numbers, sprayed on the doors
A- is for all of us: the strong, the weak, the rich, the poor, the
brave, the meek, the young, the old, the heroes who came -- how can any of us
ever forget your name. KATRINA
Hellicane category: SURVIVORS' Tales
123. Hurricane Katrina
by Orin Griffin - Albany, New York
The storm came traveling aimlessly in
And with her a strong black heartless wind
The meanest storm the coast’s ever seen
That battered the levees of New Orleans
A maiden storm, her name was Katrina
It took on the Feds and shook up the FEMA
She came upon land a category five
Anyone in her path got buried alive
The storm, she rumbled, twirled and spun
And twisted the Bayou into a slum
Uprooting trees, cars, boats and homes
Flooding the titanic of Superdomes
An impoverished city broadcast world wide
Brought hope to the humble and shame to the wise
The Mayor, the Governor, the President’s brigade
Wouldn’t go in to administer aide
Three days of toil and drudge went by
Without a rescue, they were left to die
The waves of the ocean were wrought and misled
Came through the debris to claim its dead
Three days the water rose over the city
Wreaking havoc, despair and death to the pity
So looting and pilferage took heed to survive
Since failure in judgment neglects to arrive
And with it the onslaught of hypocricy stench
The bureaucratic justice was stuck in a trench
Hold on to your fury, kneel down and pray
God’s glory will surface on reckoning day
The hopeless, the homeless all scattered about
Their cups filled with anger, their hope full of doubt
The lost, the scared, the rage was ablaze
Now lost in the heat of a fiery haze
All across the country the heartache took toll
So they opened their wallets and gave from the soul
Out of neglect, fear and frustration
Resilience is healing a sorrowful nation
Stand up Old Glory and sing us a song
That praises the faithful, the mighty, the strong
Forgive us our trespasses as we take to plight
Lead us not into temptation, but into the light
Hellicane category: 4-POLITICAL
The storm came traveling aimlessly in
And with her a strong black heartless wind
The meanest storm the coast’s ever seen
That battered the levees of New Orleans
A maiden storm, her name was Katrina
It took on the Feds and shook up the FEMA
She came upon land a category five
Anyone in her path got buried alive
The storm, she rumbled, twirled and spun
And twisted the Bayou into a slum
Uprooting trees, cars, boats and homes
Flooding the titanic of Superdomes
An impoverished city broadcast world wide
Brought hope to the humble and shame to the wise
The Mayor, the Governor, the President’s brigade
Wouldn’t go in to administer aide
Three days of toil and drudge went by
Without a rescue, they were left to die
The waves of the ocean were wrought and misled
Came through the debris to claim its dead
Three days the water rose over the city
Wreaking havoc, despair and death to the pity
So looting and pilferage took heed to survive
Since failure in judgment neglects to arrive
And with it the onslaught of hypocricy stench
The bureaucratic justice was stuck in a trench
Hold on to your fury, kneel down and pray
God’s glory will surface on reckoning day
The hopeless, the homeless all scattered about
Their cups filled with anger, their hope full of doubt
The lost, the scared, the rage was ablaze
Now lost in the heat of a fiery haze
All across the country the heartache took toll
So they opened their wallets and gave from the soul
Out of neglect, fear and frustration
Resilience is healing a sorrowful nation
Stand up Old Glory and sing us a song
That praises the faithful, the mighty, the strong
Forgive us our trespasses as we take to plight
Lead us not into temptation, but into the light
Hellicane category: 4-POLITICAL
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