James Marshall Goff Poet Free verse

The Coming Storm

Standing outside, I could sense it coming 
like before. The air thick, still, birds 
stopped singing. The sky, a jaundiced 
yellow, a sickly color about to run its 
course. Always wondering "will this be the 
funnel cloud that takes everything away?"

Frantically, I've tried to fill a tiny bucket list 
I made just for her:

Picnics to remember
Special photos framed
Comfort meals from her past
Sounds of her great grandchildren 
squeeling at their birthday parties
I love you's more frequent than before

The last storm, the third we've faced,
had outcomes we were familiar with-

Tree limbs down
Electric lines dangling
Power out

But we were lucky, neighbors helped with 
clean-up, power was restored, we could 
get around, just a little slower.

Now I feel it coming again, that same 
sickly yellow. I busy myself with 
household distractions-

Move the pictures on the wall
Write this poem
Shuffle my mementos

Something catches my ear-
A few heavy raindrops

Begin
To
Fall

Moms
had
another

stroke


02/09/14
© All Rights Reserved

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Bawa Talwar July 10, 2017 at 6:40 PM Storm inner n outer truly picturised.imagery is befitting.Storms can be so destrctive anyways rain started falling.

Charlotte Puddifoot February 18, 2014 at 5:54 AM yes, the sky does turn that jaundiced yellow before a storm, doesn't it? I think this is a very well written piece; quite unusual, good attention to detail and some effective descriptions; I would say this is definitely free verse (and good free verse!) :) James Marshall Goff February 18, 2014 at 6:19 AM thanks Charlotte, categories sometimes confuse me...jimbo

Carrie Richards February 13, 2014 at 5:04 PM This snagged my heart a bit......knowing you must be speaking of (perhaps)..your mother, and preparing for whatever might make it easier! My wish is that those storms only bring the pleasant sound of spring. :) (I do really love this poem)....

Sara Kendrick February 10, 2014 at 7:20 AM We have had a few tornados to pass by our home but so far they were just damaging to trees..It is a scary time when it happens..It is getting close to that time of year again..Great impressive work about the event..Doris' husband's brother(her husband was a triplet birth and it was one of the triplets) was killed in a tornado a few years ago..Those inner storms can be just as hard..Sara

Eileen Manassian February 9, 2014 at 11:47 PM Ahhhh....those inner storms can be devastating....We try to weather the storm as best we can.. Very moving write, Jim.

Vicky Tsiluma February 9, 2014 at 10:43 PM Wow James! This is deep and so creatively pulled off. I love the parallelism between the physical storm and emotional storm. When the storm warning goes off, the best one can do is prepare well for it and try cushioning all those who might be affected by it. Very well penned!

Robert Pettit February 9, 2014 at 5:16 PM A very descriptive poem.