Happy Days Ahead

Happy Days Ahead

We three were happy together
before the hurricane and will be again.
Our love is stronger
than weather and sadness.
We will be there dancing
when the great city is rebuilt
to her former splendor.

We snuggled together for a picture,
in the middle of the Audubon Zoo.
I held the camera out far.
"Take the picture dad, I'm ready!"
The flash froze us in time.
Emily, Monica, and I smiling back,
in the middle of a New Orleans summer vacation.

We three weathered the storm in different ways.
Monica's home was destroyed.
Foul waters from hurricane Katrina
altered the zoo, changed, uprooted, demolished,
created havoc, ruined the places we photographed.
Forgive me for letting this photo stay our reality,
while I promise you happy days ahead.

We three were happy together
before the hurricane and will be again.
Our love is stronger
than weather and sadness.
We will be there dancing,
though maybe we will cry.
The great city will be rebuilt
to better than her former splendor.