Small if counting pennies,
large if ranking a hurricane.
Some economists say pennies
no longer have much value to us.
Some scientists suggest Category Six
should be added to the hurricane scale.
What’s this rattle against my bones, a storm
growing around me? Or coins in an empty bin?
I just don’t tremble like I used to. Not like the time
the number was 21 dead. Not like the time the number
was 15 dead. Not like the time the number was one at first
but then grew through the rest of the day. Not like when I heard
the number for this year and how it keeps growing from the number 
last year. I am beginning to understand what it feels like, this growing 
numb . . .

No. The number is six. Cynthia, William, Evelyn, Mike, Katherine,
                                                                                                                            and Hallie
whose father described her as
              a gift.
                          Such a gift.