Chalmette

Frowning heaps swallow dusty remaining

Houses detached from cement grippings once held

Lethal ash born from watery pools

Dripping

Dry by southern sun

Hidden, magnified and

Drowning

Temporary seas occupy

Southern deserts. Damp

Dark piles reveal their heavy hips

Sagging skin

Daughter’s eyes covered by Mother’s sodden reach

Belief shelved, forgotten

Faith                misplaced among debris

Dirty waves, black, thieving

Steal all possessions

Ruined

Drenched and ruined

Material strewn, broken

Taken at tides command

Emotions sifted with ashy breeze

Floods leak from eyes once dry

Forever heavy water stands on their shoulders

Spirit buried under broken glass

Soaking boards disallow window cries for reflection

Splintered gazes flee from wet wounds bleeding

Ashy feet follow

Swimming

Sifting

Running

Fleeing to safety

Rummaging for respite or watching the tragedy to continue

Soggy, they wait.