Hurricane Katrina, by Whitney

Hurricane Katrina: a Tragedy
(based upon a poem by Anne Bradstreet, inspired by Spike Lee's When the Levees Broke)

At two in the morning while I was asleep,

Shortly there would be nothing to keep,

I woke to storms with wind and rain,

Which I could not comprehend in my brain.

That loud noise like bombs exploding,

And the sight of shores eroding,

I opened up the door to see,

And wondered why God sent tragedy.

To what I had known as my home,

When suddenly I realized I was not alone.

When in my house flood waters did seep,

I watched in horror as they got deep,

And when I saw they were not stopping,

I prayed that help would come a knocking.

As possessions went floating by,

I had to look up and ask “Why?”

Although it was Hurricane season,

In my mind I could not reason.

For I know God owns it all,

But as for me I could only ball,

For everything I thought was mine,

Was ruined within just a few moments of time.

As thoughts and possessions continued to drift,

My spirits sure needed a lift.

No more walls, no more floors,

No more windows, no more doors.

Everything was floating in the streets,

I looked on in disbelief.

Where my pictures once hung on the wall,

The rising waters took them all.

No more memories here to make,

But the old one’s you can’t take.

Hopes and dreams are shattered now,

But God will bring us forth somehow.

Possessions gone, but life remains,

We’re all players in the game.

The game of life,

Love, faith, toil, and strife.

For we don’t know what tomorrow holds,

But we must push to achieve our goals.

Look to the future, not the past,

Knowing all the while you may come in last.

Take tragedy as an opportunity,

To unite with your community.

No more stuff to tie you down,

All you need is your family around,

For life with no one is in vain,

If all your focus is on things.

Look above for what matters most,

And not about possessions boast.

Live well, laugh often, love much,

So your life will reflect such,

Keep the faith for He is just,

And He loves us all so very much.

The Levees Broke, by Joe

The Levees Broke
(inspired by Spike Lee's When the Levees Broke)

On a hot summer day,
My home city was in the way.
No one knew what was heading towards us,
But it hit us like Big Yellow Bus.
People thought they could stay,
But instead they all just floated way.
People thought the storm they could fight,
But were proven wrong on that hot summer night.

The levees broke.
Every thing became soaked.
People's houses being over taken,
Then day came and there was a sad awakening.
All of the beautiful homes were crushed;
The devastation was making FEMA rushed.
People waited in the attic,
Panicing and becoming static.
Seeing their family dying from the heat,
Having no water or food to eat,
Sitting there watching dead people float by,
Having nothing to do but look to the sky.
Then the day came when help arrived,
But many of the people had died.
People sitting at the dome,
Just praying to go home,
Not taking any showers,
Feeling like nasty cowards,
Seeing friends who are dead,
Man, that was such a dread.

Then they said, "You got to move,"
Most people wanted to refuse.
Then came the time when they said,
"You're going to Texas where there are beds."
People were happy and full of joy,
But wishing they were chill'n with the boys.

President Bush finally came;
People looked at him and thought he should be ashamed.
It took you three weeks to get here;
I bet you were in such a rush to get here.
People are mad at him, but he does not care,
All he wanted to do was just appear.
It was all for publicity.
But really should have been for our city.

They say they blew up the levees that night.
This made the people rise and fight,
People stealing stuff ,
Who could stop, them surely not us?
Hurricane Katrina was the biggest disaster.
We will always remember the ones who died.
On that one hot summer night.

Upon the Flooding of My House, Chloe

Upon the Flooding of My House

(based upon an Anne Bradstreet poem; inspired by Spike Lee's When the Levees Broke)

In the break of day when I took rest
There was a pounding of my chest
I listened to the thundering noise
As the leeves broke with dreadful poise
With the frightful sounds of “Water!” and “Water!”
Please let no man know of slaughter
I stared up to the light of sky
Where my heart to God did cry
With hope of strength in my distress
That FEMA has left me in horrible mess
I finally break free of my space
And stare as tides engulf my place
When my house did shake and fall to ground
I blessed His name and gave a sound
My treasure now float in mold
As I watch them turn to old
‘Twas not mine but His own
For that he wish is unknown
The ruins were there no longer kept
And there sufficient last I left
And when the ruins I did past
A sadness sorrow in my eye did last
Here and there people did die
Awaiting permanent a place to lie
Here stood that chair, and there that chest
There lay that store I loved best
My many things in mold lie
And them have no more shall I
Now in my house I shall not sit
Not at my table to eat a bit
No more stories by thy fireplace
Nor things retold of time and space
No more lights shall shine in thee
Nor shall there be a child born in thee
In silence, FEMA thou lie
A tragedy for you and I