Truth to Power

I stand there at the podium, alone.
Five elected face me, bored.
Behind me, many, all the way to the Atlantic.
all stand straighter as the words come.

I prophesy
an unstoppable flood and hurricane winds,
the destruction of the village,
man's costly efforts swept away.
I assign them a task –
get ready.

A storm is coming.
It will come soon or late.
Let's pull together,
not build walls.
The waves are coming,
the ocean will rule.

Let's see to essentials,
get the batteries,
fill the bottles,
stack the blankets.
We can survive.

The five, red-faced, only look
down into their hands.
They make no comment.

Yet the flood will come.