New Orleans
By Tatiana Pahlen

Immorality? What is it?
Can you define the desire
Of a human being in desperate bid,
chosen to endure devastation?

Save your bullet, shooter –
Poor needs bread crazed from hunger;
Don't call him a looter,
His son is dead –
Help delayed for survivors.

Life has changed since Katrina the Great
Destroyed his quarters;
Nothing left but dreadful debts
of once a homeowner.

The city is quiet, mourning the dead,
echoing ground zero —
a vicious blow leveled New Orleans;
Her jazz broken and dispersed.

When nature is maddened, who's to blame –
Andrew, Francis, Charley,
Ivan the Terrible, Katrina the Great?
Environment?
It’s time all repent!

September 6, 2005

Copyright © 2005 Tatianyc. All Rights Reserved.