Poetry Friday posts are with Kathryn Apel all the way from Australia.
Most of my week was spent inside my house watching the weather channel and wondering what Hurricane Harvey had in mind. He was a destructive force in South Texas. But here in Acadiana, we got some rain, some wind, and three days off of school. I am happy we didn’t have to endure the suffering of flooding and wind damage, but there’s a part of me that feels guilty about that.
I’m in charge of this month’s #10foundwords article for Laura Shovan’s Facebook poetry project. I chose an article that Tabatha Yeatts posted about how we can help Houston: Ways to Help People During Hurricane Harvey.
The ten words I found are: storm, contribute, massive, functioning, need, home, shelter, giving, dramatic, midst.
While the storm was heading north to dissipate, a few bands of wind gusts passed our way. I love the way the cypress trees bend and wave with the wind. They are designed to withstand hurricanes and tropical storms. I went outside to video the trees. When the wind passes through the trees, it sounds like waves on the seaside.
I realized that the video could enhance my poem, so I worked on an iMovie. If I had been teaching, I never would have had time for this kind of creative play. The grace of this storm was time to create. The grace of poetry is words to express my deepest empathy.
Reflections on the Teche 
I know what you mean, when you say a part of you feels guilty. We personally don’t suffer damage to home. We get isolated, and there is always a big clean-up around the property, and lots of fences that need repairing (for months, in bad floods) – but for us, the flooding is more about the awe than fear. And the empathy for others in the community who may not be so fortunate.
Beautiful, Margaret—a poetry prayer to all who have been touched by this tragedy. I’m glad you had the opportunity to be generous with your creativity.
It is hard to be celebrating one’s own circumstances when others have such loss, but I am glad to hear that you are all right. I know a number of Texas people who are not, and like you, my heart is with them. I love hearing a part of your cypress trees and reading your heartfelt wishes, Margaret.
So glad you don’t have the flooding. And, I also hope you had some time to rest between weather channel spots. I did see that you added to the found poem page…but haven’t caught up to it yet. First week teacher tired is my status. But, thank you for adding it. I’m not quite ready to put hurricane images into words. I’m still just taking it all in.
Thanks for providing that link for ways to help. I saw it earlier, then lost track of it. I support the big work of the Red Cross, but I like giving my dollars to the smaller efforts…seems like my $$ will make more of a difference that way. We are too far away to do any of the real work helping to rescue and rebuild, but we can definitely offer financial and moral support!
Margaret, what a lovely response to the devastation our neighbors in Texas have experienced–overcome with empathy. Thank you for sharing–again–an article that can lead us to action and words to help and heal.
Who knows who’s next? I’ve been in more than one hurricane, although I’ve been fortunate to always have high ground. I watched also, fingers crossed that the waters would be merciful.
A compelling piece of art–video and poem Margaret. It’s eerily calming, I liked the distant musical sounds in the background. Glad you and your family are all safe, my heart goes out to all those touched by this devastating storm.