Displaced

Hope floats in little boats

through flooded streets and avenues

while silent cries rise in our throats

A factory goes up in smoke;

this life they knew now turned askew

their hope afloat in little boats.

The news folk capture every quote;

each sound bite shared for all to view—

while silent cries rise in our throats.

The charities all self-promote,

with daring clips of those rescued

floating past in little boats.

For leadership, the day was rote:

they paused a moment, then withdrew;

the silent cries rose in our throats.

Across the globe the world will note

the ones who stood and made it through;

their hope afloat in little boats
while silent cries rose in their throats.

© Ginny Brannan 2017

The aftermath of Hurricane Harvey