Unnatural Fireworks
The noisy booms from the sky, streaks of color lighting the clouds,
Yes, it’s the fourth of July, but Mother natures rules this year.
The tiny creek is a raging river, littered with trees, bird feeders, toys.
Our grave driveway is underneath the water that blocks the road.
My dad worked at the Tennessee Valley Authority when I was a kid.
Their job was to try to manage flood control. Where there were floods,
We went to photograph, special phone numbers told river levels.
We filled out charts in the days when a main frame took up a room-did one thing.
It’s in my blood. Two of my sons son and two friends sloshed up the road.
The water running down what used to be roads, way to deep to be safe.
Taking videos, pictures, laughing, giving up on umbrellas, soaked to the skin.
Though we laughed, it was muted, somber. We knew why the yards of mud came.
Our mountain city is obsessed with getting rich people from other places to come here.
Strip the vegetation so they can “see” from houses we couldn’t dream of.
We shout to no one, “GO HOME!” CLEAN UP THIS MESS!” But they keep coming.
The collapsed retaining wall and 8 feet of lost land are somehow “our” problem.
I know how the native Americans felt. For “white folks” we’ve been here a long time.
The 1780 US Census lists us in this county, by 1840, we were on this road.
We have lived in this house 5 generations and now my kids can’t afford to live her.
Something is really wrong with this. It used to be a quiet farming community.
I can’t help it, I am mad. I know good people have come here too.
For all the greedy developers, mostly bankrupt before to long, I have one message,”Go the heck home, glare down on your “lessers”, ruin their land, build mansions, ruin the land,
and don’t forget to take pictures of w=what life was like before you ruined it for them.
beebeesworld 
· Der Silbenschmied said,
July 6, 2013 @ 12:55 am
… giving up on umbrellas…that will stay burned in my mind for ever. A lot of authors had described – so wonderful – so profound and true – what will change the mind and heart of a person or a community. We will live, love, suffer and die, until we have learned that we have to live the life together (what is rich?). There will be no happy people on this planet, as long as some, single, many or less people are „aware“ of their own (simple) genius. I will give up my umbrella gladly and seek my protection within a circle of people, that I could stay with, talk to, work with or depend on, no matter what ever rain will fall.
It is like it is so often. Your stories initiate so much thoughts and feelings – that is unique!
I really do love them!
bearspawprint said,
July 6, 2013 @ 1:49 am
Mad. Otta be mad.
beebeesworld said,
July 6, 2013 @ 2:06 am
believe it, I am!! beebee
Sandra Bennett said,
July 6, 2013 @ 3:06 am
Well said…terrible situation to endure…all for the wealthy.
nutsfortreasure said,
July 6, 2013 @ 12:49 pm
We feel the same as you up here in New England. Crazy development for more and more to come fill up the wetlands and flood us all out just sickening I know this for a fact!
Stay safe!
They pulled out a 100 yrr old damn and downstream went most of my woes but so did history of the old Grist Mill 😦