May 22 2011 Joplin's Ef-5 Tornado

Brick houses gone, wood houses gone Family histories blown away No photos or proof of life 2.8 billion dollars worth of damage Devastation for a mile. One house standing, with debris Covering every inch of her yard. 2008 Chevy in oak tree, Electric lines dangerously torn Silence after the roar of what sounded like a train, but must have been the Two hundred and eighty-one mile an hour winds. Tornado on a scale we cannot comprehend No one creeping out of houses For almost no one was there when it hit. If they had been, they are gone now. People creeping back hours later Shocked, horrified, grief-stricken Not for loss of life, which did happen, But for life of soul-things. Photographs, decorations, spoons, and forks, Family heirlooms, favorite purple boots, Grandma’s gold chain, lost forever, a lifetime of memories lost, most never recovered, destroyed, or dumped in rivers. May 22, 2011, Joplin Missouri’s most catastrophic EF-5 tornado The city comes together about a week later Interlopers from other cities come, Pouring in with help, food, water, clothes Things a family needs to get back on their feet The love shown to Joplin was fierce and fast. Tears flowed unexpectedly, and selfishness Was felt by those who did not feel “grateful” like they were supposed to feel. Many felt despondent, devastated, depressed. They were immobile, some never fully recovering While in the back of their minds many were Silently grateful, thanking God for being spared.