* Note: Among the people of my Clan, To die with honor…or in battle, is consider a good way to die. This was written in response to a challenge at another site...

The storm roars about me,
But I am deaf to her,
Calling her a level 5 hurricane,
Means nothing compared to what I’ve seen…
The hand of God was played tonight,
The devil gave his due-
Damn, the destruction I have seen,
The bodies that I have viewed…
We ran in to save what we could,
But the building was substandard-
And the walls just shook…

It was when the floor began to rock,
That I understood at last-
And though I called His name aloud,
It wasn’t him I mocked…

Death came with a leering grin,
And I started asking God to forgive me,
When I heard a mighty roar,
And saw what looked like a door
Come flying by me like a kite,
Atop it like some magic carpet,
Rode a child eyes wide with fear-

I couldn’t believe what I was doing,
Reached out and plucked her from her doom,
And heard the devil screaming for my blood,
As the walls came tumbling down…

But God was watching too,
And stuck out his foot,
Tripped the evil demon
Clutching the child to his breast!

She flew from his arms,
And landed against my chest,
I clutched her like a football,
Fell to my knees as the ceiling fell
And kissed the floor-

Crumbling panels all around me,
I rolled with the child under an old wooden desk,
And there I held her as we both wept…

When they finally pulled us from the rubble,
She was stuck to me like glue,
And I looked into her eyes,
Not knowing what to do…

She reached up her tiny hand,
And touched my soiled face,
Smiled and cuddled closer,
Refusing to let go of her embrace…

Never even felt the pain,
As they made me lay down,
Wondering what the hell they meant,
When they said I’d be alright…

There was nothing wrong with me!
It was the child I wanted them to see!
Then the lightning flashed and stayed,
And the night turned into day,
Suddenly I realize;
Damn,
This was a good day to die…