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Hurricane Katrina's devastation

Kindness After the Storm

Its the kindness
That kills me,
Bowls me over,
Takes my breath away,
Makes my tears well.

The old lady,
Playing on the steps,
With her tiny granddaughter,
Shouting, "Hop!" as they
Descended each step -
The sweetness of it,
And my longing,
To be a grandmother too,
Made me choke,
The tears boiling over.

The hurricane's devastation,
Murdering thousands
Of innocents.
Bodies fill the Mississippi,
Floating past the silent cameras.
The magnitude,
Has not yet
Dawned on us.

We listen to reports of
Wonderful acts of kindness,
Amongst the Texans,
Opening their homes
To the destitute,
Bringing food,
To the shelters,
Holding out their arms,
Bringing hope where
There is none.

And again my tears,
Appear,
Within two seconds
Of hearing this kindness.

The human tragedy
Is tempered by our
Humanity.
People all over the world
Have offered help,
Even Castro -
The arch-enemy,
Offered his doctors.

China offered money,
Out of kindness,
Only $5 million but
Billions of Yen -
Offering one oil magnate's
Salary to America,
Not meant as a joke,
But out of kindness,
And being too far away
To help,
They sent their money
As a token
Of kindness.

Poetry by Esti D-G