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Thursday, June 10, 2010

A Storm is Coming



A Storm is Coming

The afternoon inches along
like the string
of turquoise stones
rising toward my throat,
as if some new thought
were being formed, escalating.

They say a storm is coming,
and of course it will,
but for now
the cat anchors
the edge of shade
where breeze and sun
juggle the tree's shadow.

Elsewhere, mothers have yanked
laundry from the line
and are securing doors and windows
against the bang of wind.
A car skims blindly
home, driver brittle,
eyes bulging toward
the stream on the windshield.

The leaden storm with mountainous clouds,
gales lined with tearing,
tumbling sticks -

I want it here and now,
hail stones pounding
from a broken necklace
and me knowing what to do.

~ Ruth M.
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54 comments:

@ctors Business said...

Very atmosphereic I can feel that stange tingle in the air just befire the storm really breask. We're headimng for one here in London but I don't think it will be as spectacular!

C.M. Jackson said...

very nice--I understand that emotion very well and love how you described it as an a necklace--brilliant!

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

I do love a storm
Your poem describes why!

who said...

Ruth,

I don't wanna get in trouble anymore, I am trying to be good at not put comments everywhere. Trying to sit quietly and not frazzle peoples hair. Then you post this. A prime example of why I often think people do these things on purpose.

Jeanie said...

Oops. I forgot about the verification word and moved back to fast. I have GOT to slow myself down!

All I said before was 'how do you do it?' I can feel the air, the atmosphere the energy of the storm and the necklace -- brilliant!

Bravo -- and thanks for a wonderful time at lunch -- let's not let it go another year before we do it again!

Helena said...

Beautiful image and I love the way you described hail storm.

A good storm always makes me feel alive and electrified. Luckily we have no tornados...

* said...

Gorgeous poem, I feel it building in emotion as I read it. The first & last stanzas knock me down dead. They sing.

Lorenzo — Alchemist's Pillow said...

You do so love your cloud mountains, don't you, Ruth? The imagery here is striking, the cat anchoring "the edge of shade / where breeze and sun / juggle the tree's shadow", the brittle driver with eyes bulging at the streams on the windshield. The electric tension mounting, the yearning for the storm to break and for us to know what to do. But it doesn't, does it? And we don't, do we? ;)

The Bug said...

We drove home through West Virginia in a rain like that – brittle is the right description of our demeanors right then! When I’m safe at home I really relish a good storm. Your poem evokes that feeling of excitement…

Pat said...

Wonderful poem, very intense, it got my heart pounding, for as much as people love storms? I HATE them! I am afraid of them! And it doesn't help that I live in a trailer!

♥ Kathy said...

Oh Ruth, that was just awesome!

California Girl said...

you certainly captured the feelings in the air just before a big storm.

that is one picture post card photo!

Anonymous said...

Oh, it vanished to the bit universe - my fine comment!
Perhaps it was a right thing, because I tried to write too complicated things by my poor English :)

So, I say only, that I enjoyed your post and I will read it again :)

Peaceful and rewarding weekend to you Dear Poetesse!

Daniel Chérouvrier said...

A poet is born !

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

That storm is coming here too. It is going to be wet and cold this weekend.

Lovely poem,

Shari said...

Loved your photo and your poem. Would like to hear your take on one of our subtropical afternoon boomers. We typically get them every afternoon in the summer, but the pattern hasn't started yet this year.

Unknown said...

I smiled and felt this deep, Ruth, when I read it yesterday after posting my own little storm bit.

your photo and words , just phenomenal.

sandy said...

Back to say this is beautfiful. Forgot to comment on this poem and photo

cathyswatercolors said...

Beautiful picture Ruth. We are sisters with our love of weather and the moods they evoke?

Susan said...

I was that driver yesterday coming home from shopping! Your poetry recaptured it perfectly. I love storms, but not driving in them!

On which page will this one be in your published book of poetry? I just want to know now so that I can turn right to it when I get my copy.

Susan said...

Actually, that would be captured, not recaptured. Meh.

Ruth said...

I don't know, Gwei Mui, but a storm in London sounds spectacular to me right now. I've got to get back.

Ruth said...

Thank you, C.M., I grew up with family who loved and welcomed storms. We watched them set in while we sat on a huge front porch.

Ruth said...

Pamela, I know you love a storm too, and that's one reason I like you.

Ruth said...

Dusty, it touches me when this blog, and RUMI DAYS, connect with you so powerfully.

Ruth said...

Oh, Jeanie, too bad about the comment box silliness. Bleh.

Thank you for your good words about the poem. And yes! Thank YOU for a happy lunch, and again, for my sweet herb bouquet, which is still perky and fragrant in a vase.

Ruth said...

Helena, I grew up with tornadoes, though I never lived through one. As much as I love storms too, they can be incredibly frightening.

Ruth said...

Terresa, thank you very much for that image, but I hope you've recovered fully. :)

Ruth said...

Nope, Lorenzo, precisely. The storm never breaks, and we never know what to do. Thank you for catching that.

Ruth said...

Thank you, Dana, you just feel exhausted after driving in that invisibility.

I love your poem podcast!! Very nicely written and it is just too cool to see and hear you.

Ruth said...

Pat, it's pretty healthy to be afraid of storms, actually. It's probably pretty dumb to love them!

Ruth said...

Wow, and thank you, ♥ Kathy!

Ruth said...

Thank you, California Girl. On this day a couple years ago (of the photo) I was trying to get home before a major storm hit. As it turned out, it hit our little town before I got there, and several trees were down. We found out later that it picked up a couple in their home and dropped them by a pond, right after they moved in. Terribly sad, they were lost.

Ruth said...

Oh I'm so sorry about the comment, Leena, it seems to happen often here, bleh.

Thank you so much, and you must be having summer by now, I hope. Happy weekend!

Ruth said...

Merci, Daniel.

Ruth said...

Thank you, Ann. Stay cozy down under.

Ruth said...

Every afternoon, Shari, I didn't know that.

It was funny when we moved to Pasadena. My sister, who lived there already, told us they never got lightning or thunderstorms (which she and I love). Wouldn't you know, within days, the skies proved her wrong. :)

Ruth said...

Thank you so much, Deb. Yes, your piece is rich and deep, and reflects the inner storms and workings we feel.

Ruth said...

Thank you, Sandy. I am glad you are enjoying Rumi.

Ruth said...

Yes, Cath, sisters. Bring on the storms!

Ruth said...

Susie, you are so cute! I love your support, thank you.

Oh dear, I'm sorry you had to drive in a storm like that. I get terrified.

GailO said...

Oh I love this poem, this song of anticipation...Your words are so descriptive Ruth...I've been that bug-eyed driver...I'm sure it isn't easy to get published but I hope you try...And you could illustrate your book with your photos:)

Babs-beetle said...

Reading your poem made me feel uneasy. It was as if I was there, and I am always frightened by storms.

Vagabonde said...

I think your words are like a painting. Your palette is made of strong colors like the feelings you express. Your words resound and make an echo in your readers’ mind. I know, we have had storms every day this week with no end in sight.

Ruth said...

Oliag, thank you so much for your encouragement. I have looked at the blurb self publishing system - that would be fun.

Ruth said...

Babs, I think both thanks, and sorry, are in order.

:)

Ruth said...

Vagabonde, thank you for your good words.

We expected a thunderstorm yesterday, and it never came. I hope all is well down there, and that you don't get any flash floods.

GailO said...

Oh definitely do that Ruth!

Ginnie Hart said...

Did I ever know you love storms like I do, Sister??? The "hail stones pounding
from a broken necklace" are...PURE POETRY.

Dutchbaby said...

Not only are your words pure poetry but so is the photo. Picture perfect!

I love to see hail dancing on the ground. The broken necklace metaphor is sublime.

Ruth said...

Boots, I don't know if you knew, but I do. :)

Thank you.

Ruth said...

Thank you so much, Dutchbaby. :)

Brendan said...

Great tension here, building with the storm's approach and then scattering every which way like a broken necklace. Fine poem, but reading your current work shows how much you've grown in this short time. - Brendan

Ruth said...

Brendan, thanks for coming and reading, and thanks for affirming my current work.