The stage is set for America to remember One year ago the Katrina disaster Each town will make its own message clear But New Orleans will have the Lions share Leaders all saying they now are better prepared Praying this season won't bring what they fear
Suddenly silence envelopes the crowd Only a fierce wind shouts out loud In the air developes a most bizarre affair Thousands of people spinning a spiral there Awe is felt by those watching the scene As remembered sounds of jazz fills New Orleans
The people clap with both joy and sadness As they listen to the saints play with gladness Knowing that soon the angelic band will go Back to heaven with their instruments in tow Musicians making sure the message of choice Will be heard and shouted with one voice
"NEW ORLEANS WILL SURVIVE"
etw-2006
Some statistics that shocked me! Katrina was a tropical storm on the 24th and part of the 25th...it changed to category one(1) hurricain, then late on the 26th changed to a two(2) late on the 27th became a three(3) then afternoon of 28th became a four(4) and later a five(5) It was a five on the 29th and then reversed the numbers from evening of the 29th until the 31st (5,4,3,2,1) so for seven days that deadly storm reaked havoc, and I was shocked to realize it lasted that long. I don't know if I just forgot, or never knew until I looked up some things about the hurricain and saw the above timeline. I'm still in awe that it lasted so long and can now better understand the damage still there. Let's pray we never see its likes again!
Storm name:KATRINA Maximum wind speed:173 mph, (150 knots) Lowest central pressure:902 Advisory Start Date:2005/8/24 Advisory End Date:2005/8/31
GAD, Eileen, that pic is enough to make me wanna cringe, and then the reality of what Katrina/Rita/Wilma did, and wondering about future storms. Scary to contemplate what those poor folks went through and continue to do so. Powerful, powerful writing here, well done!
a tragic event in ameican history that could have been minimized if added support was administered to the levees ... your poem offers hope to the continuing neglect of new orleans ...
I was only as close as Tuscaloosa , Alabama those days and nights...alone in a hotel and feeling selfish for having a room to myself while familie and friends were crammed into every corner and hallways they could little afford. Each had a story to tell, each had no idea what, if anything, they would return to.....the night was frightening,no power or water or access to food...hrizontal rain and threats of anything not tied down plowing through windows, uplifting cars... even from that distance...a time I will never forget.
Love,
Taylor
Reviewed by Victor Dean (Reader)
Reviewed on August 16, 2006
I think I missed something, what is robert millette talking about. Very nice poem of the city and the aftermath.
Thank you for reminding me about the Big Easy and her Hell when Katrina came to visit. I had many friends there and I still can't find them. I called the gallery I worked for and some of my former employees haven't returned. I enjoyed NO when I was there prior to Katrina. I plan on returning to visit when I go to Baton Rouge in October. Thanks for giving all of us the heart that is yours and always so full for your fellow man.
love,
Susan
I arrived in the city of New Orleans on August 6th 2005. prior to that, i had lived in the city of Lowell Massachusetts my entire life. When i got here, i spent my first tens days like a tourist. Just driving about, seeing the sites. But something happened in the middle of that month of August that made me cry. Even now, i still feel tears well up when i think about it. A women in her thirties, along with her seven year old Daughter were shot dead in their home. THEIR HOME. Surely i had come to realize just how much violence there was on the streets. During that month of August, it seemed to me that every single day brought news of another murder. Sometimes it seemed like there were three murders a day. I began to get a whiff of a government riff with corruption, and i saw a school system that was failing miserably.
It still bothers me greatly to think that there are young men dying, being shot dead over here before thay may have had a chance to recieve Jesus. This brings tears to my eyes, and i am not even a minister of any sorts.
It couldn't have been any later than the 20th of August that i sent a letter to a dear freind of mine back in Massachusetts. I told her (she runs a bible study storefront) in the letter of all that was wrong out here, and i told her of the Mother And Daughter that where slain. I pleaded with her, Diane, please pray for the city of New Orleans.
Take some time to read the Book of Habbakuk. You'll see that Habbakuk saw what i saw. And you'll see how the Lord answered Habbakuk's prayer.
If you knew me, really knew me, you would know that i do not have delusions of grandiur. I don't claim to be anybody i am not. But i know what i know, and i saw what i saw.
"New Orleans Voices a remembrance" is truly an inspiring prose. We can all hope and pray that a disaster of this magnitude will not occur again. Beautiful photo too. My best, Gloria
Reviewed by Dove JoAnne Cromp (Reader)
Reviewed on August 16, 2006
Wowww...We will never forget that!! I have had New Orleans in intersession for a long time..Let's keep praying healing..amen..
Love & Light, Dove
Reviewed by Jerry Bolton (Reader)
Reviewed on August 16, 2006
Yes, it was bad, but the storm itself destroyed more to the east, toward and into Mississippi. Like Myrna said, if the levees had held there wouldn't have been very much wind damage at all. Of course, they didn't hold. For almost as long as I have lived down here I have seen editorial after editorial and article after article that the levees should be bolstered. Money was given to the levee board, the levee board stole it away for their pet projects or maybe even into bank acccounts. When I saw what happened during Katrina, one of the first things I said to my wife was that they should charge everybody on the levee board with manslaughter. I still maintain that feeling.
Very poignant commentary on the Katrina disaster, the effects of which will remain etched in the minds and hearts of millions forever.
Great poem - and love the music!
Eileen, seven days is really very short in the span of most storms. Some last up to two weeks and more. And when you consider that as she brushed past New Orleans she was no longer a Cat 5 and some question if she was even a Cat 4 by this time. Had the levees not been compromised New Orleans would have been awarded the luckiest city in the state for the wind damage was moderate but no where near severe. And then the scenario was repeated a month later as Rita made her trek across the Gulf and though she made landfall over 150 miles away, half of my parish was inundated with floodwater. I can only hope that lessons were learned and pray that the test to see if they were is not anytime soon. An excellent tribute Eileen and I do apologize for the length of this. It just hits so close to home..literally.
Eileen,
Thank you for bringing something beautiful out of the horror and disater of Katrina!
Good music and unbelievable image...but oh, so true, and a necessary
reminder to all, to stay vigilant in prayer.
God bless you!
Love, Rhonda
Reviewed by Jane Rodway (Reader)
Reviewed on August 16, 2006
I love this joyful write about a terrible disaster, it is true, the jazz lives on!
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(((HUGS))) and love, Karla.
Love,
Taylor
love,
Susan
It still bothers me greatly to think that there are young men dying, being shot dead over here before thay may have had a chance to recieve Jesus. This brings tears to my eyes, and i am not even a minister of any sorts.
It couldn't have been any later than the 20th of August that i sent a letter to a dear freind of mine back in Massachusetts. I told her (she runs a bible study storefront) in the letter of all that was wrong out here, and i told her of the Mother And Daughter that where slain. I pleaded with her, Diane, please pray for the city of New Orleans.
Take some time to read the Book of Habbakuk. You'll see that Habbakuk saw what i saw. And you'll see how the Lord answered Habbakuk's prayer.
If you knew me, really knew me, you would know that i do not have delusions of grandiur. I don't claim to be anybody i am not. But i know what i know, and i saw what i saw.
Love & Light, Dove
Great poem - and love the music!
RM Green
Myrna
A poignant and timely reminder of the disaster that struck the Big Easy only a year ago...
Terrific picture adds to the somber mood...
Peter
Thank you for bringing something beautiful out of the horror and disater of Katrina!
Good music and unbelievable image...but oh, so true, and a necessary
reminder to all, to stay vigilant in prayer.
God bless you!
Love, Rhonda
Love Tinka