I wrote this poem last week. The destruction from Hurricane Helene was heavy on my mind. It reminded me that you just never know. Instead of feeling hopeless, maybe we let this simple fact teach us to be more kind. Here it is. It’s called Who Knew?

Who knew it would happen today?
The thing that would bring you to your knees.
The thing that would change your world.

You didn’t see it coming.
It was a shock, a complete surprise,
From out of left field.

Who knew it would happen today?
There was no time to prepare.
At first it seems unreal, did that really just happen?

Then it starts to sink in.
The mind catches up, puts the pieces in place.
Puts an order to it, makes it real.

Who knew it would happen today?
I would lose my best friend.
I would finally get that kidney transplant.

Nobody ever knows for sure.
Life is full of twists and turns.
I think we just be kind, all the time, to everyone.

Maybe that’s how we get ready for whatever happens.