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747cdf8
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"Dad was on the porch, pacing back and forth in that uneven stride he had on account of having a gimp leg. When he saw, he let out a yelp of delight and started hobbling down the steps towards us. Mom came running out of the house. She sank down on her knees, clasped her hands in front of her, and started praying up to the heavens, thanking the Lord for delivering her children from the flood. It was she who had saved us, she declared, by staying up all night praying. "You get down on your knees and thank your guardian angel," she said. "And thank me, too." Helen and Buster got down and started praying with Mom, but I just stood there looking at them. The way I saw it. I was the one who'd saved us all, not Mom and not some guardian angel. No one was up in that cottonwood tree except the three of us. Dad came alongside me and put his arms around my shoulders. "There weren't no guardian angel, Dad," I said. I started explaining how I'd gotten us to the cottonwood tree in time, figuring out how to switch places when our arms got tired and keeping Buster and Helen awake through the long night by quizzing them. Dad squeezed my shoulder. "Well, darling," he said, "maybe the angel was you."
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flash-flood
religion
love
natural-disaster
guardian-angel
parents
mother
children
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Jeannette Walls |
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d542bc8
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Don't pack your bags just yet, stay awhile, Don't try to run away to higher ground, You're in my twisted clouds of sad misfortune, And you are such an entertaining crowd! (I've never had such cheerful toys to play with...) Forget I said that - just a little natural disaster Humour, Ha-ha-ha. Pull up a rusty lawn chair On the waterfront in New Orleans, And ignore the wind that howls, Things aren't always as they seem. I can smell fear in the air, Fresh amidst the cornbread steam, Forgive me if I sound excited, (I'm going to be famous, you know!) And let me take your money, please! I'll drown your family, hunt down your pets, I've got tricks that I've never even tried yet, And it's so easy when I get the chance! (I'll swipe your house in just one glance!) As the saying goes, it all comes out in the wash, But I'm the only wash that leaves no stone unturned, Financial devastation is my middle name, And social degradation is my third! You, little boy from the bayou bank, You used to fish for pointless fun (I can appreciate having fun), But after I go, you'll find your parents poor, You'll have eviction notices on your door, You'll have to sell any fish you can catch, In a desperate grasp for money, Although I hate to break it to you, That bayou's polluted, honey! I see nothing in your future but welfare cheques! And you there, little girl with the closet of toys, You were born well-off with a room of your own, You have dresses that look more like They're from fairy-tales, Glittery lace on your schoolgirl gowns. Wait 'till murky water licks those hems, And your family is bankrupt And you're homeless with them! Accept what's to come, won't you please? I'm just a carousel of wild winds Who'll bring you to your knees! Hell, yeah! Take a bow, take a bow, Take a bow before your god... I might just pardon you If you've got magic up your sleeve! If you're swift and resourceful you could outrun me! I always love a challenge! I always love a game... The question on your mind Is in regards to my first name, Right? My name is Katrina, the witch of the skies, A sorceress whose debut dance makes everyone die, I know it's not what you wanted! (But I'm selfish through and through), So, c'mon and make me happy! Whether you're ready or not...
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poverty
dark-poetry
hurricane-katrina
natural-disaster
southern
hurricane
welfare
witch
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Rebecca McNutt |