CREATIVES

Lyons: We’ve got Grit

By Sally King Redstone Review

September 11, 2013

Sirens are going off in Boulder.

“Mom, go look at the river”

Our river had risen wildly,

We scrambled to gather our old dog and a few things, evacuating our house, maybe forever.

Shouting over the sound of the river

As the muddy water rushed over the driveway.

And a tree crashed into the bridge

Gone in an instant…

The river was moving so fast.

The events of the night are a blur

Waking up our neighbors who had no idea

And later John going back

To rescue two other sets of neighbors

Out of the rising water

Everyone thought that our house would be gone.

(It’s right on the river)

But the river blew out across the fields of Apple Valley

And our house, though battered, still stood.

Flood is a water dragon of destruction

Nothing left in its wake

We had a room taken off, a shop leveled, the decks hanging on splintered wood,

12,000

Piles of trees, someone’s refrigerator, And all known vegetation, scoured. The task before us felt insurmountable. Like way too many dishes in the sink, I don’t know how we got the nerve to start. Insurance company adjusters to talk to And an overwhelmed Boulder County. But the volunteer organizations that came to lend a hand Tipped the scale.

I went around saying to anyone who would listen “People are amazing, people want to help, Don’t listen to the media’s negative spin –people are amazing”

Now, as I sit here on a summer day

Listening to the steady babble of the river, Her wisdom conveyed Both now and then. We are a community that knows what we know And I remember how sad we were the next day When the sheriff said to us all “You have to leave. No one can stay.” We were so bonded We didn’t want to leave.

One living organism, people of Lyons… The roots of this bonding still hold. Ten years later, the banks of the river Are overgrown with 20 foot cottonwood trees, Huge hawthornes and willows.

So many trees that we don’t mind sharing them with a beaver.

Generous and generative

This is our home.

Sally King is a local artist who believes it’s imperative that each of us pop our head up out of the collective trance, to bring through our creative gifts. You can find her on her blog and website, hersoupot.net and sallywhiteking.com or email sallywhiteking@live.com.

Peace I ask of thee o river, peace, peace, peace. When I learn to live serenely, cares will cease.

From the hills I gather courage, visions of the days to be, Strength to lead and faith to follow, all is given unto me. Peace I ask of thee o river, peace, peace, peace. Words from an old folksong