Louis Prosper

drove with us in a van
to New Orleans
a displaced person
from Katrina,
overalls every day
white beard
black skin
eyes that actually twinkled
said he felt closest to the Lord
fishin’ in the Bayou
said it made him feel
small, could hear nothing
but water against wood
could hear
God’s voice;
he loved Louisiana

loved his mama and papa
his neighborhood

when the storm started
said that God wanted
him to stay
so he waited
for water to kick down
everything that wasn’t
nailed down
floated by his thighs
overalls heavy
weight of the water,
he remembered his wood boat
got in, started rowing

hands waving from rooftops
families sinking slowly
he paddled groups of two, three
the nearby levy,
took twenty minutes for the old man
to get back there
get more
saving sisters and brothers
with the wooden boat
just one oar
Louis Prosper said he felt
closest to the Lord in water

written: Spring 2007