Windstorm

When the windstorm had taken down the powerlines,
all the houses on our block had lost power.
The neighborhood became a family
and all the mothers went to each house
to make sure we all had warm clothes and blankets.
The fathers all pulled out their barbeques
and planned for hot dog feasts and cheeseburger entrees.
They all would take shifts to make sure
the neighborhood had enough food and warmth.
The children played tag in all the front yards
and pulled out the summer chalk to draw
scenes with sun, video games, and spaceships.
We lost boundaries that day.
We forgot religion, politics and money.
We were all equal -the adults
with hands cupped around grill boiled coffee
and the children wore oversized jackets.
When the windstorm had taken down the powerlines,
all the houses on our block had lost power,
and the neighborhood became a family.

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