Le Somnambule by Marc Chagall
A storm
called Katrina
swallowed The Big Easy
abandoned, desperation in
whirlwind
poison,
death infested,
crested, licking the walls
relentless, inescapable
slurry
beings
young and not so
took to the muck alone
it was every soul for themselves
human.
kat ~ 13 July 2016
A Cinquain written for Jane Dougherty’s Poetry Challenge based on the painting Le Somnambule (Sleep Walker) by Marc Chagall. When I saw this painting I immediately thought about Hurricane Katrina. This painting represents to me the desperation of the people caught in the storm’s swell and the tragedy of having to leave their beloved pets behind…and the tragedy of our government at the time looking away while the world watched in horror. It was the cat really, who took me there…looking away from the window as if she knew. I used a string of three Cinquains to tell the story. Some things are etched in our memories…for a reason. That we never forget…that we remember so we may avoid repeating the sins of our past. Peace all!
like mercury colliding... 
July 13th, 2016 at 1:41 pm
I wasn’t aware of much of what went on. It clearly affected you, and your sadness comes over very strongly.
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July 13th, 2016 at 3:54 pm
It was horrible. People were stranded…ignored for several days after the storm. The president at the time was on vacation! People died from lack of food and water. It was horrible. Of course there was the usual looting and anarchy that set in. The poorest of the poor and minorities suffered the most. It broke my heart. Sorry for going on…thanks for your patience if you’ve read this far. 🙂
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July 13th, 2016 at 4:12 pm
We did know that it was a poor area that was the hardest hit, but not that people were dying of starvation! In the richest country in the world! That’s really shocking. I suppose that’s an example of how good for the backbone it is for the state to step back and let people sort out their own problems.
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July 13th, 2016 at 2:01 pm
Very powerful. It was a massive event, obviously went deep for you.
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July 13th, 2016 at 3:56 pm
I am what some would call an empath. This event as well as recent ones touch me deeply. I am grateful for the medium of art and poetry to help me empty. 🙂
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July 13th, 2016 at 2:57 pm
Yes, a tragedy for our nation.
Well done.
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July 13th, 2016 at 8:57 pm
Yes, such a tragedy and you represented many aspects of it well with your cinquains. xo
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July 13th, 2016 at 9:45 pm
Thanks Kathryn. That painting just brought it all back to me.
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July 14th, 2016 at 4:33 pm
Powerful poem representing this picture. It very much seems like a storm. And you show such heart and kindness, thinking about those people affected by terrible storms like Katrina, losing their possessions, especially loved ones or pets. Great representation Kat 🙂
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July 14th, 2016 at 4:38 pm
Thank you Mandi…it was a very troubling chapter in our history.
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July 15th, 2016 at 3:12 am
disaster management is mostly horrible! even in countries like USA (that is a news for us)!
sorry to know that you had to suffer.
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July 15th, 2016 at 4:19 am
Many thanks to you. This event was many years ago. But we must never forget and learn from the mistakes of the past to do better in the future. At least that is our hope.
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July 17th, 2016 at 10:02 am
You pull together so much in a small poem. A tragic event indeed. And when I look at the painting it can transform to become your poem– the poem picks up an essence of the rushing waters and a feeling of danger …
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July 17th, 2016 at 10:08 am
Thank you Janice for your kind comments. It truly was a nightmare for our country.
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July 19th, 2016 at 5:31 am
[…] Never Forget – A Trio of Cinquains | like mercury colliding… […]
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July 19th, 2016 at 6:09 am
Very powerful–well done with the cinquain form. Your poems really capture the tragedy and horror of this tragic event.
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July 19th, 2016 at 6:51 am
“every soul for themselves”–and will we ever escape this mindset? The use of 3 verses really increases the impact. (K)
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July 19th, 2016 at 9:53 am
Thanks. I really couldn’t tell the story in only one. And I do think there are some who give a different mindset the effort. They are light to this world. It happens when we reach deep down to “our better selves.” I’m hopeful. 🙂
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July 19th, 2016 at 12:45 pm
I haven’t given up yet either.
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July 19th, 2016 at 7:57 am
Very powerful emotions expressed here… It was a terrible disaster, and your take captured the chaos of it all perfectly.
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