Houses Built on Flood Plains

Houses built on flood plains, small or large and posh,
Will always be in danger of one day being awash
With water from the river, which is mostly just a stream,
The sort of little trickle, that so many would not dream
Can become a raging torrent if there is sufficient rain,
Before reverting back to just a little brook again.
But while it is a torrent it can flood the land around,
Spreading water rapidly across low-lying ground,
Enveloping the houses there that lie within its path,
Leaving devastation as the dreadful aftermath.
Things may be fine for many years, a century or more,
It could be that the river's never flooded there before,
But there is always just a chance that heavy rain will fall,
The river will o'erflow its banks and then begin to sprawl
Over all the land which lies spread out on either side,
Moving very quickly like a fast incoming tide.
Flood plains can be pretty, and some water's always nice,
But building there can sometimes come with quite a hefty price