Flood.

Last week, my hometown of Columbia, South Carolina was devastated by flood.

As I do, I responded to it by co-creating poems with Facebook friends. For me, poetry is the way to say the feelings even when they are overwhelming.

Here are my 2 poems.

Flood Days
 
Saturday lay to rest an officer under
Serendipity of moisture from the coast
A blessed tomorrow to offer
Rain and perturbation at most
Solidarity in the Acres giving
Alms to translate ghastly into comfort
 
Sunday deluge during sleep
Serenity broken by antediluvian baptism
Hope and honor and salvation
Logjam on the radio
Helicopter rescue lines fall
Into grateful golden connection
 
Monday a fresco of spaghettification
Rise and boil coffee as Devine
Becomes a fluid meditation
Colloquial and vacuous words spoken
More restless expulsion
Sleepless and prayerful devastation
 
Tuesday hope and sunshine
Volunteer under stillness of apocalypse
Until mischievous dams recede
Strong and fragile cannot breathe
Load cars and then with gratitude
Reenter home in frustrated relief
 
Wednesday pray to Yemaya and water
And your mama in her faithfulness
While trucks pour rocks into the mess
And sand is dumped by Chinooks
Repeat the word grateful till
Your back teeth crumble into goodness

Flood Nights

Sleepless I see you, tossing and turning,
Exhausted except for the dreams burning

Thankful within you of what could have been 
Wet vac and suction, loss and slow motion

Warrior pose as you stand in the dark
Soaked in your heart watching more dying

Sunshine comes slowly on nights like this
Inopportune moments of shadows blocking

Moist morning coming once night is done.

To get help or give help after the flood...