Best Irma Poems
FLEEING IRMA
spotlight moon, full, like an Old Testament cloud, leading
Floridians forth, not into the desert, but away from the wrath
of Irma. bumper to bumper, neighbors from pilot to caboose,
illuminated in each other’s flood beams. testiness and pride
put aside, as fleeing cars, in camaraderie, brave the calm
before the storm. like the Israelites, they leave behind the
homes they know, put themselves in the hands of God. many
have family and friends north of their beloved peninsula,
an unintended visit, a warm haven, not a picnic nor a vacation,
but each pulls themselves up, for our Southern neighbors
are not of the craven sort. those who choose to live near the sea,
with its beauty and fortitude, know how to batten down the hatches.
hammocks left behind will tangle, and hug palm trees, suffering
the loss of their occupants. hotels, with never ending vacationers,
takes a much needed rest. God believes in rest, sometimes
a seven year sabbath, even when the soul forgets its place. we
pray, even north of the path, in stillness, we must, in gratitude,
never taking for granted, lest we too find ourselves seeking solace
elsewhere. godspeed our tanned Peninsula friends. godspeed
and bless, with safety, tenacity, and love as we reel you in.
9/8/2017
Mortiferous winds
Entwin with copious clouds
Menacing people
Hurricane Irma is barreling down with its monster storm,
Churning 185 mile an hour winds that have eerily formed.
The U.S. is afraid what it will do when it makes landfall.
Unfortunately forecasters can’t make the exact call.
Floridians are buying generators and boarding up their homes…
There’s no telling where this catastrophic storm will roam.
This hurricane is unprecedented and a clear danger.
After Hurricane Harvey, hurricane devastation is no stranger.
A Cat five storm is 500 times stronger than a Cat One.
Floridians, it’s time to secure your families and run.
The evacuations have begun… the traffic will be massive.
If you are in the storm’s path, you can’t afford to remain passive.
9/5/17
Hurricanes Contest
Julie Rodeheaver sponsor
~Awarded 3rd Place~
I have great respect for you, and I have refused to take any of you for granted, even though I have never experienced your presence. Even though we do not always understand, I know that everything that God has created has also been given a time and purpose.
You are a mighty force to be reckoned with. I know that it is not your fault and that it is even beyond your control. The dear people of Texas suffered the wrath of Hurricane Harvey just a few days ago. He was a category 4 storm, and you, Irma are coming across the Caribbean as a category 5.
One loss of life is one too many, but with Harvey there were comparatively small numbers of lives lost. We are hoping and praying that God will hear our cry for lives to be spared by you also. One thing is sure: we can prepare for you and pray to God, because only God can control you.
You have been next to impossible to predict, and the models cannot get a real fix on you. You are strong; you are huge; and your winds speeds of 185 MPH are probably historical. Unfortunately, you might change all the rules about hurricanes. There is nothing like you, and you may be the most powerful in history. At 18 miles per hour, at least you are moving faster than Harvey, and that is a good thing for which we are grateful.
For Atlantic hurricanes like yourself, there is a list of names for every six years. So the 2017 list will be used again in 2023. This cycle changes if a storm is so deadly or costly that the use of it's name is deemed inappropriate. It is retired and removed from the rotation. For example, to name a few: Matthew 2016, Sandy 2012, Irene 2011, and Katrina 2005 are hurricane names that have been retired. Your name and Harvey's will not appear again. We also pray that no hurricane like you will ever cross the Caribbean again.
09062017 PS Contest #2, Another 2017 Stunner. Line Gauthier, 3P; Late October Standard, Brian Strand
Hurricane Irma and us
Do not fear my dearest one
I’ll hold you close despite the winds
That blow and rend with its deluge
Ogres captured Mother Nature
And held her hostage with their scheme
I bastioned you against our plight
An inundation with a flood
Large trees are ripped off from their roots
The ogres blew the roofs off tops
The window shutters shook aloud
The winds have stilled and we are safe
The hurricane has ceased to be
A calmness greets us with it’s peace
Your’e better now without the strife
I must get back to see my wife
Hurricane Contest
Sponsored by Julie Rodeheaver
September 10, 2017
*We have actually been ravaged by hurricane Irma
and we were homebound for 30 hours
wth minimal damage and I wrote two poems near a Coleman lamp.
I used poetic license with the wife (ha ha)
warm tropic waters
ignite crazed wantonness in
a mistress that strays . . .
pray you are not in the way
of this nasty home wrecker
Sept. 10, 2017
For the Hurricanes Poetry Contest of Julie Rodeheaver
While watching approaching hurricane Irma and staying put, couldn't hold myself from writing this.
Barricaded my place. Waiting. Will see...
So, I am challenging the nature.
My Soul is screaming - despite all.
If in the past some tried to bend me
They never broke me. I don't crawl.
I'm rebel in and rebel out.
Seemed outside not superman.
But strength of Will that sits inside me
Is so Great, will rise and stand.
So, maybe "Simple" - so boring.
Or "Quiet" - having no taste.
I may sleep peacefully while dreaming
But heart is filled with fire so great.
Thus, maybe that internal fire
To quench, the nature sends from far
That hurricane we call great "Irma"
That is destroying all so far.
hurricane irma
huff and puff, blow your house down
mean beatitude
on a southern latitude
Floridian voodoo doll
Twinkle, twinkle little star, Wish I may, Wish I might see you in the early morning light. So that I may call to the Lord's first database. Full and bright with every step I take.
There once was a gray-haired old lady.
Her name was Miss Irma McGrady.
As sweet as can be
was little old she,
but at bingo she’d act rather shady.
I Thought Irma Was Over
By Franklin Price
9/11/2017 – 5:26 PM
I thought Irma was over
When she turned right at the coast
To cross the width of Florida
With an eye I thought was toast
She made it although wounded
Winds out four hundred miles
She kicked the ass of Jacksonville
And took away their smiles
She left and headed northward
Pounding Georgia's coast and Isles
The Okefenokee swamp
Had hunkered down it's crocodiles
She then kept on to Charleston
Water surged in streets and ways
I'll not think she's gone again
Looks like thinking never pays
It would not surprise me
If she headed out to sea
And got her wits about her
And came back after me
I'd hunker down in Asheville
A very sheltered blue ridge town
I'm sure the mountains would not stop her
She'd scream right in and blow them down
I'm hoping she won't read this
And decide to come my way
I would much appreciate it
If she went to sea today
Headed to where the water's cold
To take away her fuel
Looks like that's the only way
She will die and end this duel
Irma and Florida
By Franklin Price
9/10/2017 - 10:07 AM
We're watching several channels
To determine what's for real
Reporters on the outside,
In the wind and rain's ideal
The place now is Miami
Presentation there's the best
Storm surge rising in the streets
Wind and rain are reaching crest
Palm trees show the blowing winds
Waves rock and roll the boats
Around low lying castle homes
Are quickly rising moats
Thousands have lost their power
Many trees are blowing down
The outer bands of Irma
Have come to South Beach town
11:19 AM
Irma won down in the Keys
Has hurricane flags unfurled
The newsmen are reporting
That she's off to Disney World
12:01PM
News flash, Irma's heading for
The greater Tampa Bay
Will keep her eye just off the coast
doing damage all the way
Forgot to pick up cigars
In Cuba 'fore the cay
May pick up some in Ebor
When tomorrow is today
It's reported in Miami
The wind's a hundred miles an hour
Two bikers riding on the street
Pushed by the blowing power
The reporter spies them as they ride
Says how stupid they must be
It astounds me why they're riding
Should be inside, not like me.
5
IRMA PEERS
darkening of glass
the hurricane cups its hands
followed by pounding
9/10/2017
IT SOUNDED LIKE THE SENAREO OF A PLAY,
IRMA 'S WIND RUSHING MY WAY.
ON EVACUATION ALARM I STAYED FOR NO REASON.
NO WHERE TO GO, MY HOME IS HER SEASON.
WITH NO WHERE TO RUN UNTIL SHE SUBSIDE,
I AM THE JAILER LOCKED INSIDE.
WHY DID I REFUSE TO MOVE,
BEFORE IRMA GOT INTO HER GROOVE.
WINDS BEAT MERCILESS, ALL I HAD WAS PRICELESS
WINDS SEALED ME IN YES!LIKE DOORS OF JAIL,
IRMA!I CRIED WHEN WILL I EVER BE OUT ON BAIL.
FEARFULLY I PRAYED WITH ALL MY HEART,
PLEASE LORD DONT LET THIS HOUSE FALL APART.
SCARED AND COLD, MY CHOICE! A CLOSET CORNER,
NOW WAS THE TIME TO GIVE GOD THE HONOUR.
THE CALM CAME,JAILER SHAKING BEYOND BELIEF,
SURPRISEINGLY, ALL WAS GONE,WAS SHE A THIEF?
AFTER A STORM COMES A CALM,
THANKS IRMA YOU LEFT ME UNHARM.
Appreciation Amidst Irma©
After watching Irma terrorize Florida and the Caribbean
This is what appreciation looks like
I appreciate that
I have hydro with which to make my morning coffee
That the roof is still on my home
The car I drive is on four wheels and not on its side
There is a place to jog this morning free of debris
The roads to get to work are safe and passable
My job is waiting for me at its usual place and time
The basement is high and dry
The bus will arrive to take the kids to school
And it is not a wading pool
There is no search and rescue
Nor a curfew
No evidence of a storm
Well rested after a night in bed
No howling winds and banging instead
Hunkered down in the dark would not have been a lark
Thank goodness for the early warning system
The many helping hands
So many agencies to heed the call
Standing up against the wall of flood
Thank you to all the brave souls
Who were out on patrols
We appreciate that which we have
And a speedy recovery for those that have loss
Of any kind
Andreas Simic©