After the Storm

In the shadow of the mountains, the sky turned gray,

Helene unleashed her fury, swept the calm away.

Winds howled like lost spirits, trees bowed in prayer,

Each gust a whispered promise, a cry of despair.

I stood amidst the chaos, my heart gripped tight,

Watching the world I knew dissolve in the night.

Roofs torn from their anchors, streets flooded with pain,

A tapestry of beauty now frayed by the rain.

How could this be my city, once vibrant and bright?

Each corner a memory, now lost from my sight.

Brick and timber shattered, echoes of laughter

Carried off by the tempest, now silence hereafter.

But in the wreckage, I felt a flicker ignite,

A spark of resilience, a will to unite.

Neighbors emerging, hands reaching through tears,

In the ashes of sorrow, we confront our fears.

We’ll gather our strength like the roots of the trees,

Rebuilding our haven, a tapestry weaves.

With hope as our anchor, we’ll stand side by side,

In the heart of Asheville, our spirit won’t hide.

From the depths of destruction, new dreams will take flight,

Together, we’ll rise like the dawn after night.

For in every heart shattered, a promise we keep:

In unity's embrace, we find strength from the deep.