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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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!
ReplyDeletevery nice--I understand that emotion very well and love how you described it as an a necklace--brilliant!
ReplyDeleteI do love a storm
ReplyDeleteYour poem describes why!
Ruth,
ReplyDeleteI 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.
Oops. I forgot about the verification word and moved back to fast. I have GOT to slow myself down!
ReplyDeleteAll 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!
Beautiful image and I love the way you described hail storm.
ReplyDeleteA good storm always makes me feel alive and electrified. Luckily we have no tornados...
Gorgeous poem, I feel it building in emotion as I read it. The first & last stanzas knock me down dead. They sing.
ReplyDeleteYou 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? ;)
ReplyDeleteWe 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…
ReplyDeleteWonderful 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!
ReplyDeleteOh Ruth, that was just awesome!
ReplyDeleteyou certainly captured the feelings in the air just before a big storm.
ReplyDeletethat is one picture post card photo!
Oh, it vanished to the bit universe - my fine comment!
ReplyDeletePerhaps 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!
A poet is born !
ReplyDeleteThat storm is coming here too. It is going to be wet and cold this weekend.
ReplyDeleteLovely poem,
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.
ReplyDeleteI smiled and felt this deep, Ruth, when I read it yesterday after posting my own little storm bit.
ReplyDeleteyour photo and words , just phenomenal.
Back to say this is beautfiful. Forgot to comment on this poem and photo
ReplyDeleteBeautiful picture Ruth. We are sisters with our love of weather and the moods they evoke?
ReplyDeleteI was that driver yesterday coming home from shopping! Your poetry recaptured it perfectly. I love storms, but not driving in them!
ReplyDeleteOn 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.
Actually, that would be captured, not recaptured. Meh.
ReplyDeleteI don't know, Gwei Mui, but a storm in London sounds spectacular to me right now. I've got to get back.
ReplyDeleteThank 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.
ReplyDeletePamela, I know you love a storm too, and that's one reason I like you.
ReplyDeleteDusty, it touches me when this blog, and RUMI DAYS, connect with you so powerfully.
ReplyDeleteOh, Jeanie, too bad about the comment box silliness. Bleh.
ReplyDeleteThank 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.
Helena, I grew up with tornadoes, though I never lived through one. As much as I love storms too, they can be incredibly frightening.
ReplyDeleteTerresa, thank you very much for that image, but I hope you've recovered fully. :)
ReplyDeleteNope, Lorenzo, precisely. The storm never breaks, and we never know what to do. Thank you for catching that.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Dana, you just feel exhausted after driving in that invisibility.
ReplyDeleteI love your poem podcast!! Very nicely written and it is just too cool to see and hear you.
Pat, it's pretty healthy to be afraid of storms, actually. It's probably pretty dumb to love them!
ReplyDeleteWow, and thank you, ♥ Kathy!
ReplyDeleteThank 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.
ReplyDeleteOh I'm so sorry about the comment, Leena, it seems to happen often here, bleh.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, and you must be having summer by now, I hope. Happy weekend!
Merci, Daniel.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ann. Stay cozy down under.
ReplyDeleteEvery afternoon, Shari, I didn't know that.
ReplyDeleteIt 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. :)
Thank you so much, Deb. Yes, your piece is rich and deep, and reflects the inner storms and workings we feel.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sandy. I am glad you are enjoying Rumi.
ReplyDeleteYes, Cath, sisters. Bring on the storms!
ReplyDeleteSusie, you are so cute! I love your support, thank you.
ReplyDeleteOh dear, I'm sorry you had to drive in a storm like that. I get terrified.
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:)
ReplyDeleteReading your poem made me feel uneasy. It was as if I was there, and I am always frightened by storms.
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteOliag, thank you so much for your encouragement. I have looked at the blurb self publishing system - that would be fun.
ReplyDeleteBabs, I think both thanks, and sorry, are in order.
ReplyDelete:)
Vagabonde, thank you for your good words.
ReplyDeleteWe expected a thunderstorm yesterday, and it never came. I hope all is well down there, and that you don't get any flash floods.
Oh definitely do that Ruth!
ReplyDeleteDid I ever know you love storms like I do, Sister??? The "hail stones pounding
ReplyDeletefrom a broken necklace" are...PURE POETRY.
Not only are your words pure poetry but so is the photo. Picture perfect!
ReplyDeleteI love to see hail dancing on the ground. The broken necklace metaphor is sublime.
Boots, I don't know if you knew, but I do. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you.
Thank you so much, Dutchbaby. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat 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
ReplyDeleteBrendan, thanks for coming and reading, and thanks for affirming my current work.
ReplyDelete