I.
Whitewashed walls, fresh paint year on year
Dry stone walls herd rapids, don’t run wild.
“Floods hit this town” yon tourists flocked to hear,
“Waters ran from yonder hills”. Man and child
Sought safety, rooftops, high ground far and near.
Only the brave, or foolish, as big butch Oscar Wilde
Stayed low as waters rushing passed, cleared
Shop signs, chairs and cars until, all was reconciled.
II.
Winds raise the sea and waves rush in and smash,
But summer’s beauty, like the softest velvet kiss
Rebuts the storm, a distant memory, in a flash
Maelstrom launched from mind to yonder abyss.
Thousands of miles the Swallow comes to dash
And dance, and swoop and sway. Would be remiss
If bells and drums stayed silent, hit and bash,
Rejoice, embrace this softest velvet bliss.
Pop along to http://dversepoets.com/ and have a look at some wonderful Odes – thanks for the prompt Gay !! I was very much “out of my comfort zone” but thoroughly enjoyed writing this one 🙂
life ... places & faces ... 
wow pretty intense there with the water reconciling everthing…nice story telling with in the form man…
I love this Ode ( and the play on big butch Oscar lying low..ho ho ho) and all the water there– Taunton, Tintagel and all the rest – I’ve been to Penzance you know ( no pirates there, of course – they were telling tales no doubt about the flood down the pub). Loved it!
A beautifully written response to the prompt. Very moving.
oh nice….makes me wanna book a flight and visit…
wonderful picture you’ve painted fro us
It’s easy to put the destruction of a flood/ hurricane in the back of your mind when you see the calm return, the birds… loved this ode.
i like this. it has a very classic tone to it. if i didn’t know you write it this week in 2012, i’d have thought this was written by someone in 1712 or 1812
I really like this line: “Winds raise the sea and waves rush in and smash”
Hello and good day, Steve,
I am pleased to nominate you for the Versatile Blogger Award. Please check out post > http://wp.me/p1YE83-gL
All good wishes, Eric 🙂
Many apologies for not replying to each of you individually – it has been quite a busy week – but I’d like to say thank you to all of you for commenting and your very kind words. And Eric, thanks very much for the nomination ! It’s an honour – thank you.