Constance La France Poet Free verse

Notes About The Poem

Poetry/Free Verse/Streets Turned Into Rivers
Copyright Protected, ID 04-1638-652-21
All Rights Reserved, 2024,  Constance La France

Written, April 21, 2024
For the International Contest, After The Flood
Sponsor, Anoucheka Gangabisson, Judged 05/19/2024

Fourth Place

Streets Turned Into Rivers

it was Spring 2023 that my city of Ottawa, Canada
      was hit by floods
we had so much rain that the rivers overflowed
                    into the streets, forests, and homes
the sewers could not cope 
                 homes were floating down the Ottawa River
and the rain kept coming and coming non stop
       the storms heavy with thunder booming
into the nights ...
              I was safe on the third floor
of my apartment building
     but had no power for days
however, some people lost everything 
                     their homes and belongings
   after the flooding the most amazing thing
people helping people everywhere
          the young and old doing what they could
whether a big thing or a small thing
              a man and his friends with a boat
         saving pets
that had to be left behind
  and others picking up stranded people
    folks bringing food to the shelters
coffee to rescuers
             yes, there were a few deaths
    but the spirit of survival was a battle cry
we will rebuild shouted a man ...
             after the waters receded
people went back to the homes
    to retrieve what they could
photo albums floated in rooms
              precious memories underwater
and always people volunteering to help
    rummage through the damage
          to help find a treasure ...

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Valsa George April 23, 2024 at 6:30 AM This is exactly what happened in the small state of Kerala where I live when a terrible flood submerged the whole region in 2018. It was something unprecedented. The loss of lives and property was alarming. The rain continued for days. But with the same spirit, as you have described, men stood united to restore back all that they lost. I can so well relate to the experiences you have narrated here. Constance La France April 23, 2024 at 12:34 PM Valsa, thank you for your comment and for sharing, it was a terrible flood with so much loss, but I was inspired by to good deeds done, the live saved both human and animal, it really restores your faith in humans, Constance

Martin Challender April 23, 2024 at 12:53 AM Loved this vivid and powerful poem. Martin Constance La France April 23, 2024 at 12:34 PM Martin, thank you so much for the compliment and comment, Constance