Harvey
Missouri City, TX
2021, Junior, Poetry & Spoken Word
They said it was coming straight for us
Sounds of cautions, warnings, alerts
Lines at stores filled with empty shelves
Water, batteries, food
And we waited.
And it came…
Crashes of thunder, lightning, and wind
Warnings of tornadoes filling the night
Mattress in the hallway
And it rained.
Daylight brought awareness.
Levees started to fill.
Trapped in the house.
The water was rising.
And it rained.
Images filled the news.
Everyone underwater.
Helicopters overhead.
Boats in the streets.
Sadness in our hearts.
And it rained.
Neighbors helping neighbors.
Teamwork.
Ordinary people turned into heroes. So much was lost.
But hope was not.
Reflection
Reflection
I reflected on my life, and Hurricane Harvey was one of the most important events that involved water. Hurricane Harvey affected my community and many people around me—not only in bad ways, but also in good ways, too. In those moments I realized what community was really about. It made me a proud Texan because it did not matter how people looked, where they were from, or their differences—we all came together, and that the good in people is what got everyone through. At that moment the spotlight was on us, and we were teaching people how to treat one another. While that water was rising, so did the good in people.