Melissa's Mess

Having watched multiple media coverage 📽️depicting photos 📸and videos 🎞️of the horrific hurricane🌀 (Melissa) that decimated the island of Jamaica, I was so overwhelmed with emotion 😰that I had to release it all on paper.📝 .

I chose to share my thoughts 💭with you who would listen to these words from my heart.💚🖤💛 .

Praying for the Jamaican people 🫂as they face the tough road ahead of restoration of their lives. 🌷 .

Eternal Father, please bless Jamaica, in Jesus' name.🙏🏽🇯🇲

Melissa's Mess

(An Ode to Jamaica)

Lord, as I come to You, I boldly confess,

Just how difficult it is for me to truly express,

My thoughts when I see this dear, fragile land,

That's been fiercely ravaged by a force so grand.

To think that elements of wind, rain and sea,

Could destroy such a place of marvelous beauty,

This hurricane, Melissa, as it was assigned the name,

Appeared on the scene, so ever slowly it came.

Unlike any other storm, it lingered around,

Weather experts, for days, it would tease and astound.

It wobbled and stalled as if confused where to go,

Then drifted and moved at speeds that were quite low.

It seemed at one point that it would wander to the west,

Out to sea, in the ocean, was their hope for the best,

But as it gained strength it made a turn to the right,

Heading northward to tackle its target in sight.

With powerful winds, it stirred up the waves,

Preparing to show the world how a strong storm behaves.

And with its descent onto the island's south shores,

The plan was to decimate its unprotected outdoors.

Residents were startled by this sudden surprise,

Being caught off-guard, not believing their eyes.

Homes were lashed constantly with a furious whip,

Into the terrain, those elements pummeled to strip.

Towering trees and light poles bent over and snapped,

Roofs of businesses and residences, like a gift, were unwrapped.

Roads were treacherously flooded, some like riverbeds of streams,

Landslides were a result of mountains ripped at the seams.

People huddled inside, in fear, with concern,

Listening as it roared and continued to churn.

Howling and whistling, shaking foundations to the core,

It caused brick walls of steel to crumble to the floor.

And as slowly as it came, it leisurely made its way,

To the northeast of the island then finally moved away.

Its mission complete, it gained speed once again,

Heading to other territories with a strength it would maintain.

The aftermath was a sore sight for everyone to behold,

An experience for many whose stories would unfold.

The devastation was alarming, its destruction widespread,

It all seemed so hopeless, as they assessed the damage with dread.

In the midst of the storm, in the darkness of night,

The future seemed bleak, recovery would be a long plight.

Yet the people, though suffering through what they'd endured most,

Had hearts that were grateful that many lives were not lost.

Yes, Melissa had messed up a beautiful land,

One that had been created by God's mighty hand.

And though some of the people had, from Him, turned away,

He promised restoration and healing if they'd repent and obey.

There's hope for Jamaica if she'd only seek God's face,

Heed His commands and be forgiven by His grace.

Although recovery won't be easy, He promised that He would,

Never ever leave her and work out all things for her good.

©2025 Michelle A. James. All Rights Reserved