A Little Higher

The street under construction, but the vendors around the corner

on the banks of the river were wetting feet and produce,

So they moved back onto the newly cemented road

And the waters rose a little higher.

First the house on the end of the street, building an extra platform

So the water couldn't touch them as they slept

But the waters rose, a little higher.

House by house it advanced, store by store

Street by street, curb by curb, conquering one structure at a time

Forcing relocation, then relocation again

Until even the main street was impassable

Homes unlivable moved to rented rooms, then to abandoned buildings

And still the waters rose, a little higher.

The bridge shut down to all but foot traffic

And smaller, narrower plank bridges were set up in place of sidewalks,

A slim course for the stream of people to pass

Attenuating balance above waters filled with

Fish and trash and splashing mer-children

Who went home at night with itchy eyes and irritated skin

From the sluggish waters that couldn't sweep away the filth

Fast enough, to sleep on damp boards above musty solutions,

Until at last

it started to recede

in the same way it came

one decimeter at a time

leaving a miry footprint

of sludge

and sand

and plastic bags.

10 meters down now and 

counting.