Hurricane Sandy Serenade, Part Two
Haibun Poem
October 30th
Wisps of breeze and a steady drizzle replace the shearing winds and punishing torrent. Our trees stood. Branches, twigs and leaves litter both yards and the driveway. Our house is unharmed.
I put up shelves in our family room. Somehow I maintain more composure through this job. Even after a shelf collapses and a ceramic angel shatters on the hardwood floor. Even when I redesign the manufacturer’s template 3/16ths of an inch to correctly measure new anchor holes.
We head downstairs to Grandma’s level and light a fire that night. Frankie eats marshmallows and s’mores, which we made from the bitter chocolate we had. We play another game of Monopoly — this time on her coffee table. We — the adults, that is — dip Tawny port.
Then we all go to bed by 8:30. It’s dark, after all.
Sandy’s departure
an inventory of refuse
needs clearing
next: Hurricane Sandy Serenade, Part Three
previous: Hurricane Sandy Serenade, Part One
more by FRANK J. TASSONE
photograph by Alex Holt
