Your tragic family: The little wealth You had is gone. No place To call home any more. No welcoming friends To take you in. There’s nothing left to do But leave.
Leaving should be Very easy. Theres nothing left For you to pack. Nor any trunk for You to put things in. No need either For a suitcase - You’re wearing Everything you own.
Who can help you - They need help too. Who can find An answer in the ashes That are the tombs Of relatives, Cremated With no prayers spoken.
How is it You must fly away. You have no passport; You have no funds Beyond the dollars In your pocket When you ran. You can’t go to The bank for more The contents of the vault Are charred. And papers with Your name on them Are gone.
You cannot call. The wires are down. The towers melted in the blaze. The Post Office Is in ruins. And no one answers When you shout.
You have friends And relatives In other places That are safe. The only thing that you can do Is wait For them to come and save you. I hear jet engines Revving up. Hope must not be Let to die. ljm
I wrote this after the Maui fire and somehow didn't post it.