Must It Be So?

We were sleeping When the dirty water Came rushing down, Drowning our arrogance And releasing our fears Into the atmosphere. We were stunned. Ravaged by consequence Melting around our feet. Disorienting panic Was devoted to the air, Igniting exhausting anarchy. Pandemonium ruled This day While we were rendered speechless, Ruined by our own Inability to escape Such confounding spoils. The dirty water rose, Bringing indignant death And uniting a new breed, The best and worst Humanity has to offer To this brave, old world. Voices lifted into the molten sky, Crying for help Beyond comprehension, Catapulting an echo Even as it occurred Around the globe. Why must it be so That man’s integrity Is tested by disaster? Why must it take Such extreme devastation To wake us?