Steven Campbell

Precious Cargo

Spring arrived early
on a freighter from Port Dunford
that docked in Biloxi yesterday
loaded with mangos, papayas 
and sweet bananas.
The fragrance overpowered the death
that visited here this past season
and penetrated the coast from
Pass Christian all the way
to Mobile. 

Aged and weary citizens, homeless
children and looters stopped
to breath in this new perfume
and reminisced of a time
when God seemed to be valid
and the oceans charitable. 

The sounds of Skil saws,
impact hammers and front loaders
ceased, if, but for only a second,
for those operating them
to contemplate this odd event –
This return to what should be,
this promise that nothing
would ever again be the same.
This one last chance.