A Savannah Tragedy Poem by Walterrean Salley

(Dixie Crystal [Imperial Sugar] was built in 1917.
It was destroyed by an explosion on February 7,2008.)


More than 90 years
Of service indeed—
Creating jobs
And meeting needs.

Dixie Crystal.
Suddenly paused—
Rift with explosion
By an unknown cause.

All were touched.
All were numbed.
We all were struck
By what had become.

The sweetness of
Our quiet town
Was suddenly bitter
And growing renown.

Many workers
Were in a daze—
Passersby recounted
The phase.

Responders came,
The media too.
Casualties
Were not a few.

Savannahians united
As never before,
In the worst tragedy
On its shore.

Doctors, Trauma,
Pilots and all—
They all labored
To answer the call.

They worked all day
And through the night.
Savannah was facing
A long, hard fight.

Such lovely Thursday
Was marred for some,
But truly Savannah
Will make it as one.
©