As the winds whipped their way around
The monstrosity hurled its wrath towards the helpless
Peninsula.
Less than a mile away, sport cruisers lie toppled in heaps!
Further North, roofs flung overhead!
Yachts are in the gas stations!
The floods have choked us dead!
Dear Sanibel, my beloved retreat...this beast has ripped your bridge,
Which held you like a newborn - to the loving mother’s breast.
Yet, the torrents are still ashore.
Though the eye has blown away.
For the calamities loom perpetually...
In this boiler room that we call “home.”
The motherland we have disowned.
-
Author:
Rocky Lagou (
Offline) - Published: September 30th, 2022 09:53
- Comment from author about the poem: My home state was disastrously affected by Hurricane Ian this week. Thankfully it just grazed by the south of Florida, so there wasn't too much ruin here. But after seeing the baffling aftermath of what occurred up North I was left utterly frightened. It goes to show the power of natural disasters, and it's important to note that our ecological footprint and the effects of global warming will only skyrocket the likelihood of these occurrences, while also strengthening their power. So I'm just sending my prayers to all who were affected by this, and galvanizing the world to play a part in healing our climatic wounds. 🙏🙏
- Category: Nature
- Views: 91
- Users favorite of this poem: Poetic Dan, Adri
Offline)
Comments11
Wow fantastically powerful writing nothing but nature can be so frightening.. Glad you are safe and all those that survived, life is the only thing we can't rebuild with a bit of gratitude for still being here...
Thank you for sharing
Much peace and respect
Hello beloved Poetic Dan. It truly was a frightening event for those who live in the west coast of the Sunshine State. My parents actually went with our church to where the devastation hit the hardest to give out packs of water and they took photos while they were there and it is truly eye-opening. They spoke with some people and their testimonies were so intense. A certain affluent neighborhood was left in ruins. All the houses were lined up with destroyed and tattered luxurious furniture across the front yards, and some even had baby cribs and toys out front. It was really depressing to see, the storm killed 100 people in Florida, but I just pray that those who survived are able to regain a steady footing. Thanks so much for considering to read and comment, I hope we as a community can recover from this tragedy. Have a blessed day.
Loved this poem and you are absolutely right in mentioning climate change and how our footprint has a direct impact on the environment. Thank you for sharing!
Hello Adri, it's really nice to hear from you. I wanted this poem to humanize the tragedy that struck Florida a few weeks ago. It was truly devastating, but I'm just so glad that many families were able to ride out the storm and stay safe. I also appreciate the fact that you noted the climate change subtext of this poem. If we don't support our planet then who will? Have a beautiful and safe day
What a way to welcome you back Rocky. Hope you and yours are ok. All my folks down in Florida are okay. Good to be reading you again, albeit the topic wasn't too exciting and quite sobering.
Hello fond poet, thanks so much for dropping by. Thankfully me and my family were able to stay safe during Ian's impact, however, sadly in other communities it isn't the same story. It's created plenty of destruction, but what's important is our lives at the end of the day. So I'm just so grateful that many rescue teams were sent out to save those in peril. Nonetheless, it's really reassuring to hear everyone you know is safe. It's truly such a blessing being that about 100 lives were lost. I hope we can overcome this as a community. Thanks again and have a good day.
Nice to see a poem from you and glad to hear you were not affected too much,take care.
Hi Dean, thanks for the kind words. I just wanted to write about the situation that happened in my home state. I feel like it was quite a scary predicament for everyone involved and I'm just so fortunate and grateful that me and my loved ones left unscathed. I hope you're doing alright, and thanks again for reading, it means a lot. Have a great day.
Dear Rocky, so glad that you are safe and relatively unscathed. This poem truly captures the devastation and horror that Floridians are experiencing. I've seen footage on the news akin to the photo, and it's hard to imagine that what, on the surface, appears stable and secure can be wiped out in a matter of hours, minutes. It will get worse unless we can come together, to accept the reality of our impact on this earth. Everything is connected, we are all connected. God bless and take care. Welcome home!
Hello dear Bella. it is so nice to see your comment. What went down here was truly tragic, and it's not something to be overlooked. The images were just appalling, but I hope that everyone who was impacted can recover in a relatively quick and safe manner. Your words truly resonate, "everything is connected." All of us, as a social and familial community need to play our part in fixing what's been destroyed and progressing the current plans to better our planet earth. May God bless you as well, thanks for such kind compliments. My goal is to always deliver the truth in a direct and unadulterated way, so your words mean the world to me. May you have a blessed and safe day.
Motherland - Mother Earth - happening all over. You are not unique.
But you have managed to give voice to the devastation and the accompanying fear involved. So very real.
Good write, Rocky.
Wow, it is so nice to see you comment dear poet. I know the last time we talked we got our wires crossed a bit, and I'm just really glad to see you care enough to read and comment. To say that I've "given voice to the devastation" is just so generous of you. The aftermath of this monster is just so heart-rending, and for everyone who lives in the communities who have been greatly impacted it's been a serious loss. But I just pray that we continue to rise up to secure stability to the ones who've lost their homes while showing kindness and love to our mother earth. I hope you are doing well and may you have a wonderful day. Much love
I actually don't remember crossed wires there Rocky, so the interaction obviously did not generate many sparks. I rarely (but only occasionally) remember such incidents because I do tend to challenge people fairly often. There's, again rarely, any antagonism towards the person - only towards the ideas they generate. While we are here, can I respectfully suggest you eliminate the 'dear' and 'love' from our future conversations? This request is for no other reason than for me those words are well and truly over used to the point that in this context they are meaningless. All of a piece with my wish to not engage in cyber friendships. (I've just challenged again 🙂).
I hope your community recovers as rapidly as possible, but fear there will be frequent and ongoing
tragedies everywhere from now on.
Hello Dave, that's pretty reassuring to hear then. I thought you might have held a bit of a grudge towards me, but it's nice to see that's not the case. Thanks for your generous wishes as well. I'll keep in mind to not refer to you endearingly (it just comes naturally to me so pardon.) I kinda like the way you challenge others though, it reveals your outspokenness.
I am so glad you are safe my friend & that you felt able to write about your personal experience here ..
I visited New Orleans soon after Katrina hit a while back and despite hearing about the chaos and carnage caused around the world by previous hurricanes, nothing could have prepared me for what I found there .. and so I can imagine how accurate your fine poem today truly is ..
Take care & I pray also for all those affected by this most recent disaster .. Neville
Hello dear Neville. I really appreciate your comment and warm compliments. What went down here in Florida was truly tragic, and to see you had firsthand experience with Katrina really speaks volumes. The disaster here was horrible, but I'm so glad that many were able to stay safe during this chaotic storm. I hope this poem effectively humanizes the situation and gives a voice to the ones who unfortunately lost their lives. I pray that we can overcome this with enough community support. I know that a storm isn't something that can easily be prevented, but it is something that can be recovered from with enough aid. Thanks again and may you have a lovely and safe day beloved poet.
"The helpless peninsula" is such a true depiction of emotion, not just of the peninsula at the onslaught, but even of the human emotion in the face of such fear and terror. Your words are a motion picture of the unravelling scene sir. Very well penned my brother.
I have weathered so many hurricanes I have lost count, of holding in windows as they bowed in and having power out for weeks on end. The clean up and repair. I remember being out walking through category 2 storms at night, watching for flying objects. They are truly one of natures wonders, not one that is desired.
Dear Author,
after reading the poem "Ian", I regretfully learned about the terrible hurricane destruction of your paradise - Sanibel. I hope none of your loved ones were hurt. I believe that after this time, much has changed for the better and the most important thing remains, I think this is the thirst for life.
Best regards.
an impactful write
Art, utilised as a tool to share
awareness
and engage that consciousness
so many of us, hide from
(sorry for my tardiness, dear Poet
an important write, thank you!)
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