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Open Poetry #9
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Hurricane Posts
| Open Poetry #9 |
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Hurricane Posts |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA 
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This will be my last post for several days....off to the green hills of North Carolina and some much-needed golf. In view of Hurricane Debbie headed for our fair Florida shores, I am reposting a trilogy of poems I wrote last year as Floyd did the same. Y'all have a great week!  Hurricane Warning It's 5 a.m. and here I am out standing in the rain. It makes me shutter at the news of mister hurricane. There's food to get and candles and those batteries, of course And other little odds and ends to help survive the force. The boat I'll fill with water lest it turn into a plane. The hoses and the garbage cans, I must bring in - again. Drinking water must be filled to help me stay alive, Vienna sausages by the case will insure I survive. Seymour's right there down the road. Pepper's right near, too And I am sure that they are doing these same things I do. It's a fact of life known to Floridians, one and all, It's best to be prepared when Mother Nature comes to call. Fred Hobbs is watching from upstate. Caroline's out there, too. I wish them all the best and hope that they all make it through. It seems that Mother Nature never likes to skip a chance At showing little folks like us, our insignifigance. So it's off to batten hatches, time to tie possessions down And, when old Floyd has passed, we'll have to see what's still around. It's just an inconvenience....just a small calamity But I've survived Toerag and Suthern - how much worse can this one be? The Calm Before the Storm The evening is quite peaceful. The air is slightly warm. We're going through what experts call The calm before the storm. There's nothing in this tranquil scene To raise cause for alarm. A night like any other, it's The calm before the storm. There's only one thing missing. I can hear no birds outside. The lizards, which abound in droves, Have also gone to hide. It invokes an eerie feeling That things are not quite the norm. God's creatures are familiar with The calm before the storm. Our fate is in His hands now To keep us safe from harm And, hopefully, we'll get to see The calm after the storm. The Forgotten So now I sit here in my study On this bright September morning, A scene so tranquil one forgets The weather center and its warning. My house is, thank God, well-constructed, My preparations thorough, too. I feel no major threat impending As Mr. Floyd comes passing through. Not true of many other people Who are less fortunate than I. My thoughts and prayers go out to them. May this storm also pass them by. The homeless people live in boxes. Miami streets they call their home. No fancy relatives to help them And they are out there all alone. The shelters do what they are able But they will fill up all too fast. The stench will be quite overpowering. The food and water will not last. Some of them can not use the shelters. Their crimes will not let them appear. God has become their judge and jury And now their day in court is here. The elderly along the beaches Sit there alone and scared to death. They have outlived all who could help them They sit in fear with baited breath. Hospital patients lay in small rooms, Machines to help them stay alive, Watch raging winds from out the window And wonder if they will survive. Of all the people that I think of As rambling thoughts run through my mind, The ones that really strike me deeply Are the poor souls that are blind. No way can I ever imagine What those poor folks are going through. The terror they must overcome is Something I could never do. So now the storm is fast approaching As our sweet Mother pays a call. If there were one thing I could wish for, I'd wish that I could help them all. [This message has been edited by Balladeer (edited 08-23-2000).] |
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| © Copyright 2000 Michael Mack - All Rights Reserved | |||
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ladysixstring Member
since 2000-07-27
Posts 374 |
Brings back memories... I was living in Broward County when Andrew hit. I truly enjoyed these. Hope you have an inspirational week. Enjoy!! -jaimie Website: www.ladysixstring.com |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
I LIVE in Broward county! You were here....and you didn't call me?!?!?! NUTS! Thanks for enjoying  |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
A good time to blow that popsicle stand, and partake of that #1 Ball, Deer....  |
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AVANTI Senior Member
since 2000-02-02
Posts 664INDIA/MAHARASHTRA/PUNE |
it one remined me of a classical piece...with it's various movements as in slow then fast you know what i mean? like Allegro,andante? very well written , well captured... If I should fall again, then they will laugh but what if just this one I rise? Avanti Rao |
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Sudhir Iyer Member Ascendant
since 2000-04-26
Posts 6943Mumbai, India : now in Belgium |
Lost in a spinning tornado of poetic thoughts.... The twister has swept me right off the ground... regards and thanks for reposting, sudhir |
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ethome Member Patricius
since 2000-05-14
Posts 11858New Brunswick Canada |
I missed these poems but I certainly am glad that I was finally able to read them...they are excellent......never been in a hurricane and have no desire to, but I can really appreciate the things you are writing about here. Have a few good rounds and relax...that means, stay out of the woods, out of the bunkers, out of the deep rough and lastly, the greatest horror of them all, stay out of the water. Hope I have encouraged you....you know. |
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Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
Very nicely penned Balladeer! From the calm before the storm, to the fear of not knowing. I like to think things like this are Mother Nature's way of saying ... "wake up" and don't take each day for granted! Life as we know it can change in the blink of an eye! Stay safe, and have a great golf game! Best wishes, /Kit |
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Marge Tindal 
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384Florida's Foreverly Shores |
Balladeer! ! ! Couldn't ya' stop in Clermont and pick me up ? I don't eat much ... I don't golf, but I love the outdoors and North Carolina and white water rafting and the mountains and trout fishing and .... everything else ! Just run off and leave me here !  Be safe and have a wonderful time ! ~*Marge*~ ~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~ [email protected] |
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ladysixstring Member
since 2000-07-27
Posts 374 |
Lived in Plantation (10 years) at Gatehouse on the Green apartments for a while, then a house on 13th street.... not far from the Broward Blvd. bridge... the one basically between Ft. Lauderdale and Plantation. I used to work in the photo lab at the Publix in Coral Springs. We left FL about 5 years ago. -jaimie Website: www.ladysixstring.com |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Stay safe...my thoughts are with you...and others... |
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