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".