IV. DEATH BY FIRE by Lacy D PhillipsIV. DEATH BY FIRE
Phyllis of the Ninth Ward, survived for days,
Remembers the taste of beignets, and Mardi Gras krewes
And the jazz and Delta blues.
A Cat. 5 hurricane
Trapped her on a rooftop island. As she starved and baked
The waters rose, swept corpses inland and stagnated,
Evincing the Bowl Effect.
Democrat or Republican
All you who draft the budget and sign the laws,
Consider Phyllis, who was neglected and robbed by you.08/28/2006 Author's Note: The original incidental rhymes have not been preserved in this piece, and I think it a much stronger work for having relaxed the structure to suit my needs. However, I have worked my own rhyme scheme into play. The name Phyllis has no special signifigance. It merely sounds near to Phlebas. Some argue that the original section title "Death by Water" would be more appropriate, but my Phyllis didn't drown. She died of exposure to the sun, which is of course a ball of fire.
Posted on 08/28/2006 Copyright © 2025 Lacy D Phillips
|