The Earthquake
I felt the earth move under my feet.
I could barely stand up on the street.
Frightened and big eyed, I looked around.
Trees were swaying, buildings falling down.
I took off and ran for the grass.
The shaking knocked me on my ass.
I was sitting in the middle of a lawn.
Everything around was almost gone.
I heard yelling and crying from the mess.
Someone trapped within, was my guess.
Myself, and several others were safe.
We started helping others to escape.
That day, I was just out for a walk.
I was thinking of heading for the dock.
Next thing I know, all is gone.
I see a doe running with its fawn.
I start digging through some rubble.
I heard a female voice in trouble.
Soon, I tunneled my way into her.
A beautiful girl, alive for sure.
Her leg was wedged under a bookcase.
I lifted it up slowly, just in case.
Luckily, her leg wasn’t broken.
Only bruised, a lucky token.
I said “Anyone else trapped in here?”
“No, I live alone.” She said in fear.
“At least, I did live here. No more now.”
“I think I lost my home too, somehow.”
“You mean you don’t know yet?”
My home was gone too, was a safe bet.
“I live a few blocks from here.”
“I was out for a walk.” “ I am pretty near.”
“Then, let’s go see if your house is there.”
“You don’t have to go anywhere.”
“I am still in shock. This house is bare.”
“I will help you. Is anybody there?”
“No, I live alone too.” I said.
“Oh, I thought maybe you were wed.”
“Not yet. Haven’t met the right one.”
So, off we went to see what was done.
On the way, I learned her name.
I told her mine. Close to the same.
My house had minimal damaged.
I told her that I could manage.
She insisted on helping me clean up.
I didn’t have a lot of stuff.
It took all day. Then, I took her to dinner.
It had to be fast food, but, it was a winner.
She had no where to stay. I had a spare room.
WE moved her stuff there real soon.
Within the month we both knew.
She wasn’t moving out. Didn’t want to.
I have found who I was searching for.
An earthquake brought her to my door.
From the disaster came a new life.
Phoenix is what we named our first child.
From the ashes rose new life, running wild.
Any way you look at this we win.
Enough love to carry us to the end.
—————————–R.W. Johnson——(2017)