(Didactic Poetry)

In the poem, “Hurricane Preparedness Watch” there is much basic information about the derivation of the word, ‘hurricane’; how hurricanes are named and how their names are retired. Reference is made to the entity that gives information about the nature and behaviour of this natural phenomenon, and what people should do. Hurricane is derived from the word, “Hurakan”. In Maya mythology, Hurakan was the wind, storm and fire god.

Hurakan is blowing its breath again.
Aimed at devastation and heaps of pain;
Twenty-one for twenty hundred and four
Eight of them have killed millions and more.

Each hurricane on the list bears a name
So with ease we track them before they maim
Their names start with letters from alphabet;
But q u and z are not in the set.

Names of tropical storms on six-year list
Are Atlantic storms; their big eyes can twist;
Of French, Spanish and English origin,
Named after major borders they do spin.

Retired storms have marred our history
Killer-canes of this twenty-first Century,
For now, the worst ones on the list will show
Katrina and Rita outdid Hugo.

These tropical cyclones can not be stopped
Because each has a huge eye that will pop;
Upon reaching Gulf States and island sands
At speeds that Saffir-Simpson understands.

We ponder on the things to do each year
When Cyclopes and his wind dragoons are near;
We fight them tooth and nail in every way
Come August to November every day.

We keep watch, wait and offer up a prayer
For all these hurricanes to disappear
From Gulf coast and islands within the chain
Then on to storm preparedness watch again.

We berth boats in the basin of the bay;
Heed what meteorologist has to say.
Branches we clip and items that can fly
We store them with canned foods but no fish fry.

We’ll close stores and folks will find their abode.
September! We are in the waiting mode.
Good grief, it is a category five
Take shelter for its devastating dive.