Monday, May 7, 2007

Bay St Louis, Mississippi

 I went to visit my dear friends Craig and Stacey in Bay St Louis, MS.

This is one of the most charming small towns in the world, curled up next to the Gulf of Mexico like a kitten.

 While Stacey and I drove around places we have loved, I kept hearing this song by Bruce Springsteen in my head.

One year and 10 months after Katrina, here's what Mississippi looks like....

MY CITY OF RUINS



There's a blood red circle
On the cold dark ground

 


And the rain is falling down
The church door's thrown open

 


I can hear the organ's song
But the congregation's gone

 


My city of ruins
My city of ruins

Now the sweet bells of mercy
Drift through the evening trees
Young men on the corner
Like scattered leaves

 

 


The boarded up windows
The empty streets

 

 

 

 


While my brother's down on his knees
My city of ruins
My city of ruins

Come on rise up! Come on rise up!
Come on rise up! Come on rise up!
Come on rise up! Come on rise up!
Come on rise up! Come on rise up!

Now there's tears on the pillow
Darlin' where we slept
And you took my heart when you left

 


Without your sweet kiss
My soul is lost, my friend
Tell me how do I begin again?
My city's in ruins
My city's in ruins

 

 

 


Now with these hands
With these hands
With these hands
With these hands
I pray Lord
With these hands
With these hands
I pray for the strength, Lord
With these hands
With these hands
I pray for the faith, Lord
With these hands
With these hands
I pray for your love, Lord
With these hands
With these hands
I pray for the strength, Lord
With these hands


With these hands
I pray for your love, Lord
With these hands
With these hands


I pray for the faith, Lord
With these hands
With these hands                           
I pray for the strength, Lord

Come on, rise up!
Come on, rise up!

 

What really gets to me is;  I keep hearing the catch in Stacey's voice when she missed a turn and said,"All my landmarks are gone".

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

The devastation was terrible and it will take years to rebuild. I don't think that anyone or anything can ever be normal again after something like what they went through....Sandi

Anonymous said...

Wow.  Very moving.
Traci

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing, Marti.  The pictures... with the song lyrics... wow, very moving...you brought tears to my eyes.  I see the hope there though, among the ruins.  And, that is good... So sad... all the wonderful things this country can do and has... and still our own people are suffering so neglected.

be well,
Dawn
http://journals.aol.com/princesssaurora/CarpeDiem/

Anonymous said...

It is a CRIME the way the government handled Katrina's aftermath!  It infuriates me still.

Russ

Anonymous said...

It's so sad to see what they had to bring themselves through with very little help, if any. Have a wonderful day!

Anonymous said...

All I can say is wow. That looks so bad ......still
Kelli
http://journals.aol.com/kamdghwmw/noonmom

Anonymous said...

Dear Marti,
very moving Marti
Ilove you
nat

Anonymous said...

Stoke-on-Trent looks worse than that, and Katrina never made it that far.
http://journals.aol.co.uk/acoward15/andy-the-bastard

Anonymous said...

    I lost the last few photos, but I very much get the idea. We hear so much about what hasn't been done in New Orleans. We forget here in the North that Katrina didn't restrict herself to New Orleans municipal boundries. Hopefully help and time will aid in lifting the entire Gulf Coast out of the muck and mire. Take care.
Jude
http://journals.aol.com/jmorancoyle/MyWay

Anonymous said...

What sad pictures. Thanks for reminding us that the devastation hasn't ended in so many other places besides New Orleans.
Kathi

Anonymous said...

All herlandmarks are gone.  Wish that were due to positive reasons.  -- Robin

Anonymous said...

This is a pretty effective way to tell the story of loss and change due to catastrophe helped along by man's lack of preparation.  I hope the landscape here doesn't stay that way forever.   Gerry

Anonymous said...

Welcome Back!! I used to read over here, in fact I had you in my Bloglines Blogroll... I don't know why it didn't alert me. Eh, Technology! I'll have to delete and re-add you. I've noticed if a website doesn't update for a while sometimes it will disappear or quit working in Bloglines..... So, occasionally I have to manually check-up on people <LOL>.

Anonymous said...

Really sad pictures, I live so far from there I don't realize people are still struggling until I see pictures like these.   Thanks for the comments you've been leaving in my journal, I'll add you to my alerts so I can keep up with yours.   Linda in beuatiful western Washington state.  

Anonymous said...

Wow those pictures are so sad. Can't belielve how much damage there is.

Anonymous said...

I am from MS, and there is so much damage that people have no clue about that is still there. So much was lost! Everyone has focused on New Orleans but has no clue the damage done in Ms.
I will be glad when things get back and going like they were before.
Hugs
Carrie