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Tornado Warning

Missing image



This angry sky
demands penance,

gravity's effects absconded
by whipping winds' wildness
and purity,

requirements of surrender
rendolent with both sorrow
and song.

Trees shiver
in the onslaught
of oblivion,

their leaves shattering silence
with an intense awareness
of vulnerability;

vibrant shadows
shuddering the moon's valor
with vengeance revealed.

Captured by clarity
in the chaos of change,

one can only determine to discover
the delicate dance
of butterflies weaving their woe,

the value of every storm's evolution,
the currents of every tide's truth.

This angry sky
demands penance,

threatens solace
with knowing gleam in distant eyes,

keen with presence
of kindred,

surrounded by kindling
and kindness unforeseen...














Author notes





Photographer unknown

 

We had a tornado warning while I was still at work. 5 or 10 minutes later and we'd have all been out in the parking lot leaving for the day. It blew out the windows in 10 cars. Yes, mine, too - it also bent my rear axle, so it basically killed my car. The same car had already been totaled in the hit and run in 2006. The same one that I put another 10,000 miles on afterwards (although I had to drive through town, as it wasn't safe on the highway anymore). Sighhh.  

 

 

 

Sorrow weaves its way around our borrowed bones...
but so does joy.



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Comments

1 - 9 of 9

  • Andantino gold member
    October 23

    Edit | Reply
    Beautiful use of language to evoke a feeling, a sense. I had to read this a few times to absorb it's meaning. Well done, poet!

    Danni


  • ZachP
    October 21

    Edit | Reply
    dearest poet:

    your stark, short lines here
    hit with the force of a tornado
    and leave a strong impression on my heart.

    this is a wonderful poem
    well deserving of the laurels awarded.
    Thank you for sharing,
    and best wishes

    Zach Estel.


  • Providence
    May 25, 2008

    Edit | Reply
    Wonderfully done Wanda. We had two tornados here in Kenosha in January, and you have captured the chaos as well as the kindness they invoke!

    Bravo!

    Marianne


  • CarolDesjarlais silver member
    May 25, 2008
    Edit | Reply
    Oh wow, oh wow....butterflies weaving their woe.....what a phrase..... striking poetry indeed.


  • Sonja
    May 25, 2008

    Edit | Reply
    I am not sure that ever anybody wrote a poem, this kind of poem dedicated to tornado with this kind of picture like you did:
    ~
    Captured by clarity
    in the chaos of change,

    one can only determine to discover
    the delicate dance
    of butterflies weaving their woe,
    ~
    I am out of words for it...
    ~Sonja~


  • transcendental baby gold member
    May 25, 2008

    Edit | Reply
    Girl! This is wonderful! I love how you weaved the concepts of joy and pain, life and death with a tornado needle!!! That is intelligent and insightful poetry at its best

    Hope you didn't end up in Oz today ... or your little car either


  • arafura gold member
    May 25, 2008

    Edit | Reply
    I have just seen on the news that there has been a series of tornados in your state. I hope you were not affected by them directly!


  • Nicolette gold member
    May 25, 2008

    Edit | Reply
    Love where you took the concept of 'weaving' - just shows how imaginative and poetic you are,Vlindertjie. I love storms (and they love me too, it seems lol)! Wonderful penning...the wrapping and unwrapping - the two sides of a coin. Good luck in Carol's contest, my friend

    ~ Nicolette


  • parenchma
    May 24, 2008
    Edit | Reply
    What does a butterfly do in a tornado...

1 - 9 of 9