central Texas

one death we struggle
getting over
so
so how to comprehend a hundred
deaths and
more

storms and floods
destroying
like Time’s rolling sons in
the old hymn

taken
the material and
lively

debating over quick response
especially in a time of
cutting funding
for
all kinds of services

mostly
though a matter
now
of rescue
and the dreadful counting

receiving
aid
enduring then
to take
on
against all pushes of despair
considering
instead how to rebuild


“O God, Our Help in Ages Past” by Isaac Watts
       Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
       Bears all its sons away;
       They fly, forgotten, as a dream
       Dies at the op’ning day.
       (excerpt)


flooding town next over
(from mine in Pennsylvania)

Carlisle
one day
for storm floods
that were
severe

boating on streets
through town
no chance to pass through
radiating intersections

all the trees and parts of trees
that fell
and the delicate
dangerous dance
with
electricity

now nature helps to dry
in its irony of
having
delivered all the water first

the human focus next
on
taking
finding stock
and then rebuilding


c l couch


photo by Wes Warren on Unsplash