Galveston, 1900
First the wind, then a tide like no other
uprooting the calm,
a visage tilted back in descent
as if listening for the aftermath.
And later, the gardener’s lament
and the building’s exposed ribs,
light entering the eternal
orchard, nine children tied to a cincture.
Not even the earth could retain its bodies,
and the sea remanded those given to its care.
“Galveston, 1900” first appeared here in January 2015.
O at the Edges 
Such a powerful piece. And the pictures fit perfectly.
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Thanks, Leslie. That 1900 hurricane was horrifying, but we’ve had others since then. So much devastation. The photos are from morguefile.com.
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Morguefile. Even knowing that morgue in this case doesn’t mean a place dead people are kept, I still get goosebumps when I hear that term. I worked for a small town newspaper in my younger days and hated having to file things in the morgue.
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It is a bit eerie, isn’t it?
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It is.
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Galveston is my favorite Texas city. My mind starts composing romantic stories as soon as I arrive. What a tragedy you write about…but since you wrote this piece Texas has had more hurricanes to write about. those are not the kind of stories I conjure up though.
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Galveston is interesting, but I wouldn’t want to live there. Guess I’m not a coastal person.
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I wouldn’t want to live there either. I just enjoy visiting. I am not a water person either but my allergies do so much better on islands where there is no vegetation.
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Oh,those allergies! They’re driving me nuts today, Antarctica sounds good all of a sudden. 😀
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I have found a good nasal antihistamine. Wish i’d found sooner, when I was pumping my nasal lining with steroids sprays.
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Amazing 😍
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Thank you, Laleh!
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The awe is palpable.
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That storm! Tho I think many inspire awe. Such power!
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I have lost my words, powerfully stirring poetry.
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Mother Nature is unforgiving.
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She doesn’t discriminate that’s for sure! Great post.
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Certainly not malicious. We’re all equal before her.
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Well said, thanks for sharing 🌺
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