Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Rising Above




The tides are in our veins. ~Robinson Jeffers



Linking with Poet United for Midweek Motif ~Flood  hosted by Susan (Thank you Susan)



One morning in April of 2016, I woke up to look out the window and find that my apartment was in the middle of a lake.  Good thing I can swim was not my first thought...suddenly me and sailors could speak the same language and I am not talking about ship terms.  My car was in the rising waters and there was no saving it.  After a couple of days of being trapped and unable to leave on wheels there was an evacuation.


The good news is: 
after applying for FEMA help
being declined
appealing and trying again
because I don't give up easily
I finally was approved
and got help to purchase a car
after 6 months of a lot of walking 
and waiting for rides.
What did I learn from this?
Well, first of all it pays 
to not give up.
When a door closes
God opens a window.
Sometimes hardships
can turn out to be 
blessings in disguise.
No matter how bad 
you think you have it
there is someone else 
out there with a worse situation.
When tough times hit
people are usually very kind and giving
The lovely thing was that we met 
neighbors that we would never have
seen otherwise.


Now here is my poem for the prompt:



Rising Above
but
I am Always Thirsty,


My mother always said "don't drink
any more before bed"
but I was always thirsty
and had chocolate milk instead
my life has been a flood of lessons
some learned some not
and when it rains it pours
and when it's dry
well it's just plain hot
and one thing I have learned through time
is this
love and sustenance are a constant fix
for me there is a close correlation between
water and men 
sometimes they are a disaster at my door
but I sure can't live without them
and because of my deep seeded need for love
I always keep coming back for more
one drink is never enough
gotta have 8 glasses of water a day
to stay healthy that is what 
the doctor's say
but sometimes I wake up
to a flood at my door
and I wish I had listened
to my mother more!



Author's Note:
The only floods truly at my door are totally rain related. :-)








16 comments:

  1. Ah, indeed life teaches us a flood of lessons. And, alas, don't we all eventually wish we had listened to our mothers more! Smiles.

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  2. I love this, Carrie, and can definitely relate!

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  3. Thank you for sharing.

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  4. Ha ha. The 8 glasses and more wasn't a problem until I got way older. Oh, the more pleasant things that the road of excess leads to...! it's been a long time since this sounded so fresh and compelling: "and when it rains it pours
    and when it's dry
    well it's just plain hot." Water and men ... wonderful!

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  5. I am glad it was not you that caused the flood!

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  6. Great post Carrie - I loved the chocolate milk especially

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  7. We are learning all our life and even from flood. "love and sustenance are a constant fix"...A gem churned out of experience.
    So nice to see you here @ PU Carrie :)

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  8. love your need for 8 glasses and end wake up to a flood. Good one I can relate.
    I can also relate to the blessing of disasters happening. when we had earthquake we had the same experience we got to know our neighbours and people were all helping each other. A shame that it can't stay like that

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  9. When a door closes
    God opens a window.
    Sometimes hardships
    can turn out to be
    blessings in disguise.

    Love this positive note. Beautifully done, Carrie.

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  10. Great thought provoking poem. Should we live life to the fullest and indulge in every cup of water, or worry of the possible flood.

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  11. like the parallel between water and men...

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  12. I wished my mother gave me pearls of wisdom, but she did not. ~sigh~

    Your story about the flood was unreal! I never had to go through anything like that. It must of been hard to keep a sense of humor and well being through all of that but you sound like you did.

    Water and men, what a great comparison! One drink is never enough....awesome write, Carrie!

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  13. Thank you for sharing your flood experiences...and put life in perspective as well! Well written.

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  14. I like the take aways in this poem - especially if not for the flood, you would have never met your neighbors. Good and positive write!

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  15. Scary to see cars submerged. But, many times we have no say when it comes to floods...
    So true. Floods teach us such a lot.
    Lovely poetic message!
    And yes, we must listen to Mom. Totally agree! Moms are always right!

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"Our best thoughts come from others." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson