F - Felix and Bart

This is by far the most difficult post I’ve done for the A-Z Challenge. I wrote this poem while watching live footage of people in tears leaving or those who refused rescue because they would not leave their pets to die in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. I’m still affected by the memory of that horror.

In August of 2005, Hurricane Katrina caused a humanitarian disaster which caught the attention of the whole world. For me, one of the saddest ‘rescue’ operations was that people were faced with a choice of being rescued only without their pets or refusing rescue. Many people and their pets died because of this unconscionable edict. I wrote the featured poem with a heavy heart. And yes, my heart breaks every time I think about the inhumanity of it all. Here are only two of the articles written about the situation.

The pictures are linked to two sites.

Felix and Bart

With red-rimmed eyes

With breaking heart

He looked about and wept

His little cat, Felix

And his old dog, Bart

The only family he had left

Then the rescuers arrived

Six of them in a boat

With loaded guns

For protection they said

You have to leave

We’ve come for you

Alright, God Bless

And Thank you

Please help me

With my dog and cat

They’re not allowed

They cannot come

You and one bundle

Treasures you can hold

My only treasures I have

The only treasures I want

Are my pets

My pets I love, please…

We’ve said – no pets

You heard. Got it?

We’ve come for you

You have to come

But

Please

You have to help me

What about Felix and Bart?

They’re animals

We’ve told you once

They’re only pets

We have no room

I’ll carry them

Please

If I leave them

They’ll die

That’s just too bad

They’re not allowed

Get your things

And step aboard

Thank you

But No

I will not leave

Not without my pets

You do your worst

I won’t allow you in

To “rescue” me

To leave my pets in this tomb

We’ll survive

As we have thus far

And if we don’t

Well, that’s our own doom

Take your “rescue”

Take your boat

Take your guns

And go!

We don’t need

The likes of you

Go

Go away

Go now!

Or shoot

But if you shoot

Shoot to kill

I will not leave

Without my pets

I will not leave

Against my will

I will not leave

Get out!

Heartbreak - Katrina Aftermath Washington Post

ASPCA rescuers from neighbouring areas