What Follows Next?

At the end of tragedies and storms,
a greater sadness settles
one made of destruction and rubble;
and the survivors are left to battle themselves
to battle the smallest shred of optimism
or to fight for that shred and move forward.

At the end of tragedies and storms,
there remains confusion
and insanity settles within the perturbed;

the brave harden their hearts and bury doubts
and then we ask, "what are we left with to show?"

At the end of tragedies and storms,
there is a fine line between a new start
and the abysmal end.