Gnarled

The branches

twisted 

  and turned

into gnarled arms

extending

from the water.

Reached 

up and up

  to the sky.

It kept rising;

the water,

drowned

out the cries

and these 

  distorted arms

crooked, 

broke down-

bent into elbows

to push up.

The water

climbed

  and no one

bailed out.

We drove passed

out-stretched arms

  choked cries

and the rain

continued.