The Aftermath of the Tempest

Like winds incessant through the night 
and torrents dumped from darkened clouds,
the storm raged on without contrite
my anguish hid ‘neath subtle shrouds.

A storm like this I’ve never seen
in my whole lifetime to be sure
when hot converging airs convene;
‘tis more than one should e’er endure.

But now at dawn an eerie calm
as sun peeks out and shadows cast,
and nature sings its Sunday psalm;
the mayhem seeming to have passed.

Yet as I look around the room
belongings scattered everywhere;
my treasures past have met their doom,
been tossed about without a care.

My heart is crushed, left in a void, 
its pieces scattered on the floor;
like trees blown down, my life destroyed
as she walked out and slammed the door.


October 26, 2020
Copyright © | Year Posted 2020

Poem

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

De Beaulieu Avatar
November 20, 2020 at 12:03 PM
Hello John Gondolf, this sounds like romance to me. Enjoy your day my friend.
De Beaulieu Avatar
November 21, 2020 at 3:34 PM
Hello Hohn, you are welcome my friend. enjoy your evening my friend.
Gondolf Avatar
November 21, 2020 at 9:08 AM
Thank you, Darlene, I appreciate your thoughts and comments. Hugs, John
Proxenos Avatar
November 13, 2020 at 5:05 AM
A masterpiece dear John, whether, a rain storm a sea storm, a romantic storm which perhaps is through jealousy or divorce, a hurricane, an earthquake, there is an eeiry silence just before and just after, then comes a catastrophic situation in fact, now that I re-read the poem and read that your treasures found their doom, I think it's probably romance. Hugs and blessings, Jennifer.
Gondolf Avatar
November 14, 2020 at 7:03 AM
Hi Jenn, your thinking is correct, I was using a storm as a metaphor for a stormy relationship and when it's over we're left to clean up the mess and pick up the pieces. Hope all is well with you. Hugs, John
Hamilton Avatar
November 7, 2020 at 1:02 PM
An excellent write John, some love is like living through a hurricane, but there is peace after the storm has passed!
Gondolf Avatar
November 8, 2020 at 7:00 AM
Thanks, John, I appreciate your thoughts and comments. John
Mcconnell Avatar
November 7, 2020 at 11:45 AM
Rather fine piece John, nice rhyme and flow too. Really enjoyable! Hope all is good with you, blessings,Gordon
Gondolf Avatar
November 7, 2020 at 12:43 PM
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and comments, Gordon, I appreciate it. John
Wolf Avatar
November 5, 2020 at 10:10 AM
Memorable penning here -- 'and nature sings its Sunday psalm;'... 'as she walked out and slammed the door.' Worthy of Shakespeare's play by the same name, 'The Tempest.' Lovely done, John. Happy Thursday, Gershon
Gondolf Avatar
November 5, 2020 at 1:50 PM
Gershon, I appreciate your thoughts and comments so much, thanks for stopping by. Have a good evening. John
Mcintosh Avatar
November 1, 2020 at 6:29 AM
This is such a inspiration from your pen. A fave for me ... so sad, yet incredibly alive with your passionate pen. God bless you my friend
Gondolf Avatar
November 1, 2020 at 9:14 AM
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and comments, Gina, and thanks for saving it to your favorites. John
Y. Avatar
October 31, 2020 at 6:05 AM
WoW! John, You penned such a well written poem on how one would feel after the devastation of storm. Good content, rhymes and imagery. Great comparison on ones personal life and actual storm. If this is for a contest, I wish the best of luck.Excellent job. Happy Halloween my friend:-) Alexis Soupmail
Gondolf Avatar
October 31, 2020 at 7:03 AM
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Alexis, I appreciate you. Happy Halloween to you! Hugs, John
Fenn Avatar
October 30, 2020 at 11:29 PM
Wow John! I see in your conversations with other poets that this poem is fiction, but it’s so well done that you had me convinced that you really did go through some kind of storm, be it a literal hurricane or a break-up!
Gondolf Avatar
October 31, 2020 at 4:40 AM
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and comments, Jennifer, I appreciate it. I did go through a nasty divorce forty years ago and I am able to draw on those past feelings when I need to. Thanks for the visit. John
Devonshire Avatar
October 30, 2020 at 2:56 PM
We get over the loss of "things" faster than the loss of a loved one, John. I'm wondering if you were writing about one of the hurricanes this year. Maybe there were some effects in Texas? I like the way you described the damages before you mentioned the woman had left. Sorry there are voting problems in Texas too. Thanks for your visit. Hugs, Carolyn
Gondolf Avatar
October 30, 2020 at 6:13 PM
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and comments, Carolyn, I actually wrote this for Craig’s After the Hurricane contest; I had a different take on the theme. Texas was pretty much spared this summer but Louisiana had a tough season. Thanks for the visit. Hugs, John
James Avatar
October 28, 2020 at 3:51 PM
The aftermath and realization is when it hits the hardest. Powerful and well written John, Emilia : )
Gondolf Avatar
October 28, 2020 at 5:53 PM
Been there, done that...but that’s was a long time ago. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and comments, Emilia. John
Kendrick Avatar
October 28, 2020 at 4:20 AM
Well, sad one at the end. I hope just a work and not the present situation in your life or maybe the aftermath in a friend's life. Sara
Gondolf Avatar
October 28, 2020 at 5:14 AM
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and comments, Sara. This poem is fiction, written for a contest. All the best to you. John
Nicole Avatar
October 27, 2020 at 9:11 AM
"The Aftermath" indeed. Oh my !! This is deep, powerful and emotional- all at the same time. A storm moves all around and in the process, the heart gets broken. You have created a Masterpiece here with your words. Well done my dear sweet friend. Hugs, Brandy
Gondolf Avatar
October 27, 2020 at 10:03 AM
Thank you for placing your thoughts an my poem, Brandy, I appreciate you and your support. I wouldn't say this is a masterpiece, just my simple thoughts put into verse, but thank you for the compliment. Hugs, John
Cunningham Avatar
October 26, 2020 at 6:02 AM
Wasn't expecting that ending John, I thought it would be calm after the storm You had me thinking of hurricanes and tornados until the end. Well written, hope alls well. Tom
Gondolf Avatar
October 26, 2020 at 10:57 AM
Thanks, Tom, I'm glad you liked my little twist at the end. Hope all is well with you and yours. John
Get a Premium Membership
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace