home destroyed in hurricane, photo by Andrea Booher‘A Colossal Event of Avoidance’: A Poem by Warren Bonham The Society November 19, 2024 Poetry, Satire 18 Comments . A Colossal Event of Avoidance “This is a colossal event of avoidance not just in the state of Florida, but you will find avoidance in the Carolinas.” —Marn’i Washington, FEMA Supervisor, November 11, 2024 A colossal event of avoidance occurred when a storm came and went causing damage unheard of with homes and possessions completely destroyed, and with carnage still fresh, FEMA entered the void to parade through the wreckage and give out a crumb, they gave victims a check of de minimus sum, but they also were wise, and did not take a chance when a name they despise such as Trump or like Vance could be seen on a sign since they knew right away a Hitlerian shrine built by his protégé was inside and its owner deserved what he got reaping as he had sown, ending broke and distraught. . . Warren Bonham is a private equity investor who lives in Southlake, Texas. NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets. The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary. 18 Responses Brian A. Yapko November 19, 2024 What FEMA did in Florida (and elsewhere no doubt) by choosing to punish Americans suffering from the effects of natural disasters by withholding benefits simply because they had the audacity to display a “Trump for President” sign is one of the most depraved things I’ve yet heard done by our conscienceless liberal overlords. And that’s saying something! I hope everyone involved in this evil policy decision and its implementation gets jail time. And I hope those poor suffering storm victims get the assistance they need. Thank you, Warren, for shining a spotlight on this politically-motivated retaliatory conduct with your very fine poem. Reply Warren Bonham November 20, 2024 Like you, I have trouble believing this was isolated just to Florida, or even that it is isolated just within FEMA. Washington isn’t very big on accountability, but hopefully things will change early next year. Reply Joseph S. Salemi November 20, 2024 What FEMA did is perfectly in line with the standard practice of the old Soviet Union. In Communist Russia persons who were considered “class enemies” (the bourgeoisie, practicing Christians, members of the nobility, non-leftist teachers and intellectuals, and any ideological deviationists from the Communist Party Line) received no governmental assistance, or any of the normal rights of citizens. Entire groups of people like the kulaks and the Ukrainian farmers were deliberately starved to death, or exiled to slave labor camps. The Soviets even had a phrase for such action — it was called “social prophylaxis.” This meant the protection of Marxist society from the disease of internal enemies or dissenters. We in America have just escaped the specter of that happening here. Every left-liberal would be perfectly happy to persecute and eventually exterminate every American who opposes the left-liberal agenda. They see it as the morally correct thing to do. Reply Warren Bonham November 20, 2024 I’ve never heard the phrase “social prophylaxis” before, but it seems to fit very well. The FEMA Administrator was on Capitol Hill yesterday using the time-tested tactic of stonewalling and distracting in the hope that this will soon be forgotten. This time, it may actually end differently. Reply Mary Gardner November 20, 2024 Warren, FEMA’s action was reprehensible, and I am glad to see you airing it in this poem. The meter and rhyme are exact. It was only on the second reading that I noticed the skillful internal rhyming. Reply Warren Bonham November 20, 2024 I’m glad you noticed the internal rhyme. I was hoping that throwing that extra rhyme in wouldn’t come across as too contrived. Reply Roy Eugene Peterson November 20, 2024 Speaking of telling the truth! You did it in spades as we have learned the vile actions of the FEMA representatives! This is a timely poem of prejudice at the highest levels of government. Thank you for your exposition! Reply Warren Bonham November 20, 2024 We’re chipping away. As long as we don’t give up, we’ll have a collective impact. Reply Cheryl A Corey November 20, 2024 Great poem, Warren. Love the rhyme of “crumb” with “de minimus sum”. Reply Warren Bonham November 20, 2024 Even Harris supporters will find that the crumb doesn’t go very far. Reply Margaret Coats November 20, 2024 Warren, you are a natural. To come up with this perceptive poem of the moment, in perfect anapestic meter with perfectly placed internal rhyme, precisely when it needs to be heard, is marvelous. I hope Trump will invite representative sufferers to the White House, or maybe visit some in Florida before he moves–though this would be mocked as purely political. I think you have written a relevant poem on “not being political.” Reply Warren Bonham November 20, 2024 Thanks! The quote by Marn’i Washington hit me right away as a great anapestic phrase. She may not be well-suited for FEMA, but she’s a natural poet. I agree 100% that Trump can shine a real spotlight on this situation by spending some time with those who were passed over by FEMA. Reply Paul A. Freeman November 20, 2024 The withholding of aid is indeed reprehensible. As I recall during and after Katrina, the lack and slow arrival of aid was largely due to incompetence. However, deliberate withholding of aid seems to be becoming a political tool. Just note Trump’s threats not to help California during the wildfire season some years back, which he has reiterated recently. Reply Warren Bonham November 20, 2024 The aid definitely needs to be available to all of those in need. I can’t think of any carve-outs that would ever be acceptable. Reply Russel Winick November 21, 2024 Great poem Warren. The behavior is undoubtedly criminal, and should result in jail time for at least its designers. Reply Warren Bonham November 25, 2024 I wish I had confidence that there will be accountability but the track record is not very good. Until there is accountability, this sort of thing will continue (and escalate). Reply Adam Wasem November 24, 2024 A nicely acid satire, in my favorite kind of deadpan style. Most galling about the situation is that apparently virtually all of FEMA’s budget was already spent housing and feeding the twenty million illegals Biden invited in, leading to the pittance FEMA offered to those who lost everything, and likely a contributing factor to the “selectiveness” you referred to in this poem. Sickening, as usual, from the Biden regime. I’ve reached the point where I don’t even want to know any more about the regime’s behavior just because I’m so tired of constantly being outraged and disgusted, so kudos to you for having, literally, the stomach to address it. Reply Warren Bonham November 25, 2024 The rot runs deep. I hope the new crop of leaders has the strength and stomach to truly take it on and tame the beast. Reply Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Brian A. Yapko November 19, 2024 What FEMA did in Florida (and elsewhere no doubt) by choosing to punish Americans suffering from the effects of natural disasters by withholding benefits simply because they had the audacity to display a “Trump for President” sign is one of the most depraved things I’ve yet heard done by our conscienceless liberal overlords. And that’s saying something! I hope everyone involved in this evil policy decision and its implementation gets jail time. And I hope those poor suffering storm victims get the assistance they need. Thank you, Warren, for shining a spotlight on this politically-motivated retaliatory conduct with your very fine poem. Reply
Warren Bonham November 20, 2024 Like you, I have trouble believing this was isolated just to Florida, or even that it is isolated just within FEMA. Washington isn’t very big on accountability, but hopefully things will change early next year. Reply
Joseph S. Salemi November 20, 2024 What FEMA did is perfectly in line with the standard practice of the old Soviet Union. In Communist Russia persons who were considered “class enemies” (the bourgeoisie, practicing Christians, members of the nobility, non-leftist teachers and intellectuals, and any ideological deviationists from the Communist Party Line) received no governmental assistance, or any of the normal rights of citizens. Entire groups of people like the kulaks and the Ukrainian farmers were deliberately starved to death, or exiled to slave labor camps. The Soviets even had a phrase for such action — it was called “social prophylaxis.” This meant the protection of Marxist society from the disease of internal enemies or dissenters. We in America have just escaped the specter of that happening here. Every left-liberal would be perfectly happy to persecute and eventually exterminate every American who opposes the left-liberal agenda. They see it as the morally correct thing to do. Reply
Warren Bonham November 20, 2024 I’ve never heard the phrase “social prophylaxis” before, but it seems to fit very well. The FEMA Administrator was on Capitol Hill yesterday using the time-tested tactic of stonewalling and distracting in the hope that this will soon be forgotten. This time, it may actually end differently. Reply
Mary Gardner November 20, 2024 Warren, FEMA’s action was reprehensible, and I am glad to see you airing it in this poem. The meter and rhyme are exact. It was only on the second reading that I noticed the skillful internal rhyming. Reply
Warren Bonham November 20, 2024 I’m glad you noticed the internal rhyme. I was hoping that throwing that extra rhyme in wouldn’t come across as too contrived. Reply
Roy Eugene Peterson November 20, 2024 Speaking of telling the truth! You did it in spades as we have learned the vile actions of the FEMA representatives! This is a timely poem of prejudice at the highest levels of government. Thank you for your exposition! Reply
Warren Bonham November 20, 2024 We’re chipping away. As long as we don’t give up, we’ll have a collective impact. Reply
Cheryl A Corey November 20, 2024 Great poem, Warren. Love the rhyme of “crumb” with “de minimus sum”. Reply
Warren Bonham November 20, 2024 Even Harris supporters will find that the crumb doesn’t go very far. Reply
Margaret Coats November 20, 2024 Warren, you are a natural. To come up with this perceptive poem of the moment, in perfect anapestic meter with perfectly placed internal rhyme, precisely when it needs to be heard, is marvelous. I hope Trump will invite representative sufferers to the White House, or maybe visit some in Florida before he moves–though this would be mocked as purely political. I think you have written a relevant poem on “not being political.” Reply
Warren Bonham November 20, 2024 Thanks! The quote by Marn’i Washington hit me right away as a great anapestic phrase. She may not be well-suited for FEMA, but she’s a natural poet. I agree 100% that Trump can shine a real spotlight on this situation by spending some time with those who were passed over by FEMA. Reply
Paul A. Freeman November 20, 2024 The withholding of aid is indeed reprehensible. As I recall during and after Katrina, the lack and slow arrival of aid was largely due to incompetence. However, deliberate withholding of aid seems to be becoming a political tool. Just note Trump’s threats not to help California during the wildfire season some years back, which he has reiterated recently. Reply
Warren Bonham November 20, 2024 The aid definitely needs to be available to all of those in need. I can’t think of any carve-outs that would ever be acceptable. Reply
Russel Winick November 21, 2024 Great poem Warren. The behavior is undoubtedly criminal, and should result in jail time for at least its designers. Reply
Warren Bonham November 25, 2024 I wish I had confidence that there will be accountability but the track record is not very good. Until there is accountability, this sort of thing will continue (and escalate). Reply
Adam Wasem November 24, 2024 A nicely acid satire, in my favorite kind of deadpan style. Most galling about the situation is that apparently virtually all of FEMA’s budget was already spent housing and feeding the twenty million illegals Biden invited in, leading to the pittance FEMA offered to those who lost everything, and likely a contributing factor to the “selectiveness” you referred to in this poem. Sickening, as usual, from the Biden regime. I’ve reached the point where I don’t even want to know any more about the regime’s behavior just because I’m so tired of constantly being outraged and disgusted, so kudos to you for having, literally, the stomach to address it. Reply
Warren Bonham November 25, 2024 The rot runs deep. I hope the new crop of leaders has the strength and stomach to truly take it on and tame the beast. Reply
