katrina       

let me leave in a box,                                         

that old lady said,                                

sitting in the kitchen

right by the stove

every burner on.

that hurricane was

meant for me,

my family up and

left me here, they knew

it called to me.

...could smell the gas out by the road.

life was done, she said.

she surely meant to die,

she would not leave;

she fought to stay,

we fought to take her away.

tied her to a gurney,

put her in the ambulance.

old lady, no matter what,

we're not allowed to let you die

i'll not soon forget her

hoarse clear cry

as we drove her away:

let me go from my house,

in the box i choose.