As all of us are painfully aware, the anniversary
of Katrina is just barely behind us. This event has impacted the
lives of so many in our communities and our nation. I have struggled
to find the words to share with you, my new Katrina family, to
commemorate the anniversary, and had given up trying. And then I
received a poem. I will let the words of a 12 year old speak to and
for us all.
But first a little background information on the author, Hannah, the
granddaughter of a co-worker here at the United Way for the Greater
New Orleans Area. Hannah's family lost their home in Lakeview to 9
ft. of water, and her grandfather, passed away on New Year’s Eve in
the midst of all the trauma, due to his pre-existing health
conditions and his anguish over his beloved city’s plight. For a
school assignment Hannah was to write a poem about her ”calling.”
She told her mom she didn’t have any idea what her calling was --
that all she could hear lately was a bunch of loud and crazy noise.
Her mother suggested that maybe she could write about not knowing
what her calling was and told her a neat word for lots of loud noise
was “cacophony”. Naturally, Hannah loved the word and said she was
going to name the poem that. Then she wrote the words you will read.
Despite the poem, be assured that Hannah has an incredible sense of
humor and an indomitable spirit.
Here is her poem:
Cacophony
If I am being called I can not hear it.
Katrina’s disruptive voice is still so loud
it leaves me deaf.
I am so caught up thinking about the past
that it’s hard to hear the future.
My grandfather’s soothing voice echoes
even though he’s gone.
The crunch of bulldozers eating houses
drowns out any thought of how my life is going to be.
The silence of my neighborhood
where kids used to run and play
screams in my ears,
and I can’t concentrate.
Maybe I’ll hear a voice calling someday,
but for now,
cacophony.
Hannah Beth Campbell
8-27-06