We Willed It

Reflecting upon
the supposed tragedy
that was the tornado that hit
Mt. Washington, Pittsburgh
at 5:56 p.m.
on Tuesday, June 2, 1998
I wonder if it wasn't
a very good thing

Coming home that day
my girlfriend and I
found everyone in the community
out on the streets
talking, laughing
marveling
at what did or didn't
happen to them in the storm

Never had I seen
this level of openness
among my neighbors
as if we were all tired
of being so ignorant and self-involved
and all we needed
was a natural disaster
to be human again

get the video camera

get the video camera
this guy's roof was torn
clean off
and this woman's garden
has been transplanted
into the neighbor's pool
The back of that building
collapsed
and everywhere it rained
bricks
upon unsuspecting automobiles

get the video camera
I can see into
that couple's living room
because their front wall
is gone
And the trees
older than my grandfather
have been uprooted
and their fallen trunks
are blocking
every road

get the video camera
the power lines
have fallen
And the families
now homeless
huddle and weep

get the video camera
and
whatever you do
don't miss
that twisted street sign
One Way
it says
pointed straight
down