First of all fellow Floridians, do not fear. The sun is shining today and no hurricane warnings are upon us. But it’s August, and we all know the next two months can be dicey at times. Dangerous weather damages Florida communities every year. As an Orlando resident, I’m fortunate to live in an area that hasn’t experienced the wrath of very many hurricanes. The worst storm I can remember happened in 2004 when Charley came through.
Still, I’m aware of the tough times communities encounter when their power is out for days. This poem, entitled A Cruel Joke of Nature is dedicated to you.
When Charley came to town
the city lost all power.
The stagnant, stifling air
Weighs heavy every hour.
Mornings with no coffee
No bacon, no warm toast.
Yet, inside the kitchen…
the smell of rotten roast.
The radio is silent.
My phone is out of juice.
The TV screen is blank
and Google sheds no truth.
I snuff the candles out
to rest upon my bed,
Swatting at mosquitos
Which whine around my head.
A Cruel Joke of Nature
this taunting serenade.
Escaping to the shower,
I think I’ve got it made.
My triumph is short-lived
Icy water hits my side
The bugs attack my legs
There’s nowhere left to hide.
Illuminated world
Advanced technology
Unequal to the storm
which brought me to my knees.
debbieburton.blog 