With broken hearts we turn to You
Our tears cannot help those in need
To countless souls we bid adieu
And hope You listen as we plead
Bahamians need Your blessing
While they try to rebuild their homes
Dorian still keeps them guessing
As through the streets the homeless roam
Take pity on this island nation
Where families lost all they had
Starving, hopeless in devastation
Many still missing, and all so sad
If Dorian’s swift, salty surge
Carried many souls out to sea
Please help their families emerge
Stronger in the Isle of Free
For from the states some slaves escaped
To build better lives in Freeport
Blankets of flowers are now draped
On coffins bearing lives cut short
Written September 13, 2019
For Regina Riddle’s “Write a Psalm” Poetry Contest
Categories:
freeport, faith, natural disasters,
Form: Rhyme
FREEPORT RHAPSODY…
(Apropos A Visit Home )
Tired shrimp boats sit moored
along the muddy banks of the Brazos;
their day’s catch iced down and waiting.
Tormenting mosquitoes flew
from puddles of water
pooled between blades of salt grass,
feasting on the fresh blood
of buzzed home comers.
The aroma of seafood gumbo pots
saturated the salt water air; and the clinking
bottle caps signaled the gathering of keno players.
Olympian domino players slap their table tops
with rhythms that rival the best of Art Blakely’s
drumming on a full moon Afro Night.
Teams of bid whist players
played musical chairs.
Over chattering voices, echoes of howling dogs
faded into canine whimpers
as Gulf Coast breeze blew sweet memories:
Indeed there’s no place
like home.
Categories:
freeport, boat, celebration, family, food,
Form: Prose Poetry
[To the city of Freeport Texas]
Near diamond shaped
and backyard small,
a park that’s barely wider
than the trees it holds are tall.
Where a warm gulf breeze rattles
sleeping Palm-tree leaves
composing a feral music
filling ears with restful peace.
A gazebo just off center
beckons without words to say,
caring for its sitters
shade from a hot sun's ray.
Where I sit in noisy silence
from cars passing by
enjoying tunes from wood birds
like a love struck, male Magpie.
A testament to city workers
the grass there neatly mowed,
the hedges forever trimmed
their care and hard work shows.
So I offered up a prayer
(Interrupted by a Lark)
God grant a grace of hours here
at Velasco Riverside Park.
Categories:
freeport, devotion, happiness, inspirational, life,
Form: Quatrain