The Flood

I was just thinking about how natural hazards put everyone on an equal basis, and just decided it might be fun to throw down some thoughts on it all. I haven't used writers cafe for a while so...

When the flood comes, nothing matters,

There’s no time to hide, to slink away,

For it comes down to a single moment,

A point when life stands still, and waits.

Retreats from the present out of deference 

to the future, hiding from the tragedy that’s yet to come.

The dreams and hopes of every person, the material want of society,

everything. It’s swept away.

Victims cleansed of all their desires, regardless of class or background.

Terror. It’s etched on the countenance of every person,

The rich cry and scream and beg. The poor cry and scream and beg.

A scream that starts, and starts, and carries on

Until it can’t any more.

The final cries of disparity, of humanity.

The frantic shrieks for children, for parents.

For anybody.

Then the sound is drowned as the hopefuls are likewise.

That’s when the water comes.

That’s when the flood comes.

And when the flood comes, nothing matters.