This is the only poem I have on hurricanes. I have "country cousins" all over south Mississippi. They got slammed in '69 by Camille, and they got slammed again in '79 by Frederick. Looks like they've gotten slammed again. I heard stories of Frederick and the aftermath.
This was an assignment for a college class - hence the meter and rhyme scheme.
Frederick Came By
The ever-growing terror from the south
That howled like grief from God's, or Satan's, mouth
Visited us in our smug poverty;
All holy angels scattered at his wrath.
The barn picked up and left, as all can see,
Swept clean from all but frowning memory.
Cows wander among the twisted wood.
Bewildered seagulls search the land for sea.
There are bald spaces now where forests stood.
He cleared this land quicker than sawmills could.
Houses he shook like bones, and us like fright,
As if he thought that death could do us good.
We dig among our roots by Autumn's long light
As if we saw by digging, not by sight.
His memory, unseen angel of the night,
Will watch us scrabble from his swirling, unpitying height.
This was an assignment for a college class - hence the meter and rhyme scheme.
Frederick Came By
The ever-growing terror from the south
That howled like grief from God's, or Satan's, mouth
Visited us in our smug poverty;
All holy angels scattered at his wrath.
The barn picked up and left, as all can see,
Swept clean from all but frowning memory.
Cows wander among the twisted wood.
Bewildered seagulls search the land for sea.
There are bald spaces now where forests stood.
He cleared this land quicker than sawmills could.
Houses he shook like bones, and us like fright,
As if he thought that death could do us good.
We dig among our roots by Autumn's long light
As if we saw by digging, not by sight.
His memory, unseen angel of the night,
Will watch us scrabble from his swirling, unpitying height.
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Sounds like you and your sister have some pretty interesting conversations. My brothers have absolutely no interest in that kind of conversation, mores the pity.
You're absolutely right about the power thing. But I still don't understand it. What is the point of attempting to deny the beauty of the male form? Granted, its a very vocal way to try and empower one sex by bringing the other down, but really, who benefits from that kind of thing? I find it so frustrating that people can think that way.
It didn't really occur to me that the whole 'no penis' thing could stem from anger. But the more I think about it, the more logical it seems and I think that that anger is also connected to the whole power issue. I have no idea why I didn't see it before. Still seems like a ridiculously passive-agressive way to express it, in my ever-so humble opinion. And its particularly strange on those occasions when this kind of comment comes from the very same people who will happily drool over male celebrities. Ahh...the female mind, I'll never understand it - and I am one!
Anyhow, there's nothing wrong with cerebral conversations about penises. Even if it is with someone from another continent. I can understand Bush giving you the desire to move here - but really, who needs an excuse to want to live here? Its brilliant.
PS Ghost World - wow, I'd almost forgotten about that movie. It was brilliant. I must watch it again sometime soon. Thanks for the reminder!