Norwester Ii
On wooded land and open water, the gale struck hard
Plucking fallen twigs and flowers and leaves and the unwary bird
Caught unawares, a family of cranes about five or six in number
Took hastily to flight from an island and were hurled across the water
Violently shaken from slumber, the trees awoke
And as they swayed in frenzy, thick branches snapped and broke
Still ignoring my instincts, I continued to walk
But the fury of the storm made me inwardly baulk
The greatest dangers posed were however man-made
They were live power lines on poles, strung overhead
And loose metal roofing of shanties rattling nearby
Poised to ride the storm, razing as they would fly
With heart pounding as the wind raged, I quickened my pace
Half blinded and with hair tousled, as the dust stung my face
I could see the rain as it approached, fast across the lake
But despite the extended canopy above, I was soon dripping wet
Whipped by the wind, the rain lashed hard
My neighbourhood was deserted, not a soul stirred
All had taken refuge – even the stray dogs and cattle
As lightning flashed and thunder cracked and windows shuddered and rattled
With wary eyes for falling debris, I walked the middle road
Fearful of lightning strikes stabbing earth like a jagged sword
In an alley, off the road, a glass pane fell and shattered
As the relentless storm raged on, reaching home was all that mattered
Copyright © Sumit Majumdar | Year Posted 2013
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