The year was eighty-seven,
The year we had the storm.
The wind howled through the night,
Tiles clattered,
Trees toppled,
Rooves moved,
And fell.
The countryside changed,
Yet only eighteen died.
As I drove to work
The landscape was different.
The trees that had blocked my view were down,
Tiles were everywhere.
I got into work, Building Maintenance at the time,
The ‘phones never stopped.
I sent men out to view the hell
That the wind had produced.
Yet only eighteen died.
They tales they told were both horrific,
And funny.
They told of the rooves
They found on the ground,
Lifted from blocks of flats,
And laid to one side.
Of the tree that fell between
Two blocks, yet touched neither.
Of the greenhouse in the middle of the road,
All glass still intact.
Yet only eighteen died.
The saddest part of all
Was that the wind was salt laden,
It killed the colours of autumn
All over the borough.
So that day when we drove to the west
Was so very strange,
So very beautiful,
Because we drove into autumn.
-
Author:
Goldfinch60 (Pseudonym) (
Offline) - Published: February 2nd, 2019 02:07
- Comment from author about the poem: Back in 1987 the weather forecaster said that there will be no hurricane tonight - well there was and I was one of those who helped to organise clearing up the problems that it caused - interesting times.
- Category: Reflection
- Views: 32
- Users favorite of this poem: Joseph M Marion
Offline)
Comments6
A fine write Gold. I remember the night. Anything similar happen around 1066?
No only the hurricane that was the Normans.
Thank you for this delightful tho somewhat blustery trip down memory lane... I remember it well, so I do.... Neville
Yes it was a bit windy, it was amazing some of the sites I saw, the town of Sevenoaks changed its name to two oaks.
even some literature has been affected apparently, Wind in the Willows is now known as 'Wind in the Where the..
and the second and subsequent editions as 'Wind in the what the..
So many tales to be told of that night. Your final verse a magical trip in itself.
Yes that was wonderful, driving into autumn.
Thanks UNCLE ANDY ~ I love Poem & Mister B ! I love all His symphonies so cool & balanced. I was only 4 during the Great Storm and Angela was still a TWINKLE ! (Born 1988). It was more intense in some places than others ~ but I remember the TV being full of it which was exciting !
Blessings & Love in the Spirit to You Both B & A 🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡
It was the South East that was hit and Kent where I was born and brought up was rather worst.
Yes it was a really tough one - great write Andy.
Thanks Michael it was hard but as it happened over night “Yet only eighteen died”, if it had happened during the day the deaths would have been considerably more.
Love it cause vivid pictures
Thank you Joseph, it was amazing some of the sights that I saw. One being the flat rooves of two blocks of flats lifted up and blown to the ground by the side of the flats.
Why my dedication call the police lyrics and writers we can find inspiration in any part of life very good I love reading your work sometimes I forget to reply and post it as my favorite forgive me for this I'll try to do better
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