After The Hurricanes Poem by Jim Yerman

Before the hurricanes it was quite obvious…America was not great…
Before the hurricanes it seemed all we talked about was antipathy and hate.

Before the hurricanes the divisions in our country reared their ugly heads
Before the hurricanes where people gathered…bigotry and animosity was spread.

Before the hurricanes hate was rampant…Where do I begin:
People hated that you were an immigrant, who you loved, or the color of your skin.

But the hurricanes arrived with heavy winds and waters filling the bays
And somehow, for a little while, washed that hate away.

After the hurricanes love was rampant…Where do I begin:
People helped one another…not caring if you were an immigrant, who you loved, or the color of your skin.

After the hurricanes there were no divisions in our country…and unity lifted its beautiful head.
After the hurricanes where people gathered…friendship and tenderness was spread.

After the hurricane our eyesight changed…we were all sisters…we were all brothers
We forgot what was dividing us as we rushed to help each other.

After the hurricanes when we looked around…love was overcoming hate
And it became quite obvious to all who watched…America can be great.

We can be great…
We can overcome hate…
we can let love be our refrain…
If only we heed the lessons we learned…
after the hurricanes.