By Thursday, I’ve lost track of days. A kind man stops by the town office with plates of cookies, still warm from the oven. I’ve been up for hours and hours by then, some working, some staring out the window at the dawn pushing up over the mountain, a spill of pink that widens into gold.
I haven’t been flooded. I know no one who’s injured. Yet, all around, the torn-up world, the folks who are seeking dry shelter, clean clothing, the next meal. The roads are our arteries, and slowly, gravel load by excavator sweep, the world is being put back together.
Thunderstorms and flash floods are in the forecast. Through all this, there’s the subtle underlying sense of how quickly the world turns.
Stores warn of early closings. We’re in this place I recognize immediately, almost giddy, slightly horrified, where people let down their guard, laugh at things that maybe aren’t that funny. Slowly, wrapping order around chaos.
“Water symbolizes the whole of potentiality – the source of all possible existence.”
— Mircea Eliade
Stony Soil Vermont 
Yes Brett Ann, I could echo your beautiful words. It’s a strange time, thank you for marking it.
Stay safe.
We had a so-called “once in a lifetime” flood here in Nashville and I almost lost my wife Beth while I was living on an island and unable to reach her in a time of need. I wrote this poem about the experience…
After the Deluge
by Michael R. Burch
She was kinder than light
to an up-reaching flower
and sweeter than rain
to the bees in their bower
where anemones blush
at the affections they shower,
and love’s shocking power.
She shocked me to life,
but soon left me to wither.
I was listless without her,
nor could I be with her.
I fell under the spell
of her absence’s power.
in that calamitous hour.
Like blithe showers that fled
repealing spring’s sweetness;
like suns’ warming rays sped
away, with such fleetness …
she has taken my heart—
alas, our completeness!
I now wilt in pale beams
of her occult remembrance.
What a poem!!!! Thank you for posting!
I’m glad you liked it.
“Wrapping order around chaos…” Love it. Wonderful phrase/words. Very evocative.
I liked that too. That’s what we do. We have to.
More order, please….
Glad you weren’t flooded. What happens to our neighbors, our area affects us so much.
💚
I noticed today a story about the floods in Vermont in THE NEW YORKER.
I missed that! I’ll look for that!
Continued prayers…
❤️❤️❤️
I hope everybody’s world will be put back together again, and soon!
Best wishes,
Tanja