The Eye of the Storm – A Haibun

I have been absent from this blog for the last few days as I was affected by Hurricane Ian here in Sarasota on the West Coast of Florida. He was a monster of a storm and his eye was on us. It was 24 hours of nerve-wracking hell being powerless and watching the damage to our homes and property occur in front of our eyes. We were without power and internet for several days. Many unfortunate souls have it far worse.

We escaped because he chose to come onshore just about 50 miles south of here but we felt his wrath because of the sheer size of the storm. This is not the first time. We have dodged the hurricane bullet on many occasions in the past. Why?

Is Sarasota…blessed? Depending on who you talk to, the answer is yes. There are various Sarasota Indian myths that the lands were blessed by Native Americans to be protected against hurricanes.
Some hold the belief that Sarasota is protected from hurricanes because the Native Americans who first settled here knew that it was safe from the elements. Others believe that they blessed the lands to stay eternally safe from destructive storms and hurricanes. Still others think that it’s an ancient Indian burial ground on the lands of Sarasota that keeps it protected. It’s likely a geographical phenomenon but I like the Indian myth.

The eye of the storm
Staring at us in the face
Blinked and went elsewhere


Copyright © 2022 Christine Bolton - Poetry for Healing
All Rights Reserved

Hundreds of thousands of people in Southwest Florida have been devastated by Hurricane Ian. One of the worst in the nation’s history. The news coverage is front and center right now but it will pass quickly as the media pounces on another catastrophic event to report. Meanwhile lives have been changed forever and for some it will be a very long and slow recovery, if at all.

  23 comments for “The Eye of the Storm – A Haibun

  1. October 9, 2022 at 5:10 pm

    So glad to hear you are all right!

    • Christine Bolton
      October 11, 2022 at 8:39 am

      Thanks Susi. We fared so much better than others not too far away from us. There are horror stories 😢

      • October 11, 2022 at 10:49 pm

        Nature is not kind, and it’s indiscriminate. :_(

  2. October 6, 2022 at 2:53 pm

    Hope you and yours and your family and friends are okay, and escaped Ian’s wrath! 😊💕🌹

    • Christine Bolton
      October 7, 2022 at 10:40 am

      We are all fine, thanks Chuck. Minimum damage in Sarasota. Ian chose to land just a little further south. My heart aches for the loss. It’s unbelievable what has happened there 😢

      • October 13, 2022 at 4:31 pm

        Yes, it is so sad to see all the devastation and know what that means to the poor people that have to rebuild and rise up again. We have a lot to be thankful for every day, don’t we???
        Happy to hear that all is well with You and yours, My Dear! 😊💕🌹

  3. October 3, 2022 at 8:59 am

    Myth or not…happy you are safe.

    • Christine Bolton
      October 3, 2022 at 11:31 pm

      Thank you so much Darnell. It was scary 😦

  4. October 1, 2022 at 7:42 pm

    I’m happy that you’re safe. A lot of folks in your area, according to the news, had significant property damage and flooding.

    • Christine Bolton
      October 1, 2022 at 11:40 pm

      Thanks Fa. I appreciate that very much. I know some who are still without power, suffered damage to their homes or are flooded out. I cannot believe how lucky we were. Just a short drive south and they experienced such devastation. Ft.Myers in particular.

  5. October 1, 2022 at 1:49 pm

    Glad you are OK Christine.

    • Christine Bolton
      October 1, 2022 at 11:40 pm

      Thank you Di. I appreciate that ☺️💕

  6. October 1, 2022 at 11:29 am

    Christine, Happy You Are Safe. Thank you for sharing the info about Sarasota.

    • Christine Bolton
      October 1, 2022 at 12:05 pm

      Thanks Lisa. I appreciate it. I think we are blessed by the Native Americans 🥰

      • October 1, 2022 at 12:39 pm

        You’re very welcome.

  7. October 1, 2022 at 9:48 am

    Ian was an awful storm, but living in Clermont, I was relatively unscathed by it. I am happy that you survived Christine.

    • Christine Bolton
      October 1, 2022 at 12:02 pm

      Thanks Jim. It was pretty scary. Without power and then internet i couldn’t see what had happened in Ft Myers until last night. How dreadful. There were some shocking sights of the devastation. This hurricane was bloody enormous 😧

      • October 1, 2022 at 12:32 pm

        Sarasota got hit pretty hard from what I saw on CNN,

  8. October 1, 2022 at 8:59 am

    Hugs! I’m glad you’re safe 💕

    • Christine Bolton
      October 1, 2022 at 12:03 pm

      Thank you for your kind thoughts Paula ☺️💕

  9. October 1, 2022 at 8:17 am

    I’m glad you’re safe. The devastation is so tragic

    • Christine Bolton
      October 1, 2022 at 12:04 pm

      Thank you Sadje. Yes, it is horrible 😢

      • October 1, 2022 at 12:54 pm

        ☹️

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