The only picture of you as a baby was lost as the waters rose

That purple prom dress, the one that showed how much weight you’d lost was lost

as the waters rose

Aunt SueEllen’s most colorful Star Quilt caught in the oak tree branch as the waters rose

Memory after memory rushed downstream as the waters rose

Home canned goods and “store bought” dropped and fled the pantry like soldiers on a mission

One by one the stuff on the shelves dropped into nature’s soup as the waters rose

Creeks filled with considerable concern as the waters rose

No low place spared, no high place safe as the waters rose

The raging, freaking, crazy creek chased me higher and higher

as the waters rose

Chicken coop rushed at me

as the waters rose

Waves crushed my chest and held  my breath

Full of sick water

as the waters rose

Empty of my things

as the waters rose

The waters sink down low

Where do I go?

2017 West Virginia Writers Contest poetry winner(3rd place)

On June 23, 2016, a flood hit areas of West Virginia and nearby parts of Virginia, resulting in 23 deaths.

Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome

PTSS is a condition that develops in some people who have experienced a shocking, scary, or dangerous event. It is natural to feel afraid during and after a traumatic situation.

Two years after the Greenbrier Valley experienced the worst flood of a lifetime many folks still shudder, shatter and are sleepless during rain storms.

Great compassion, understanding and resources also flooded into our community then and still now.

Like all grief it takes as long as it takes to move on and recover. Our community is still in this process this month, two years later. Mercy and grace for all. | Interested to contribute? Send your poetry submission to info@christinae6.sg-host.com

– Diana Hunt. HashtagWV #102. June 2018.