Storm Poem by Vi Lanflagle

The wind starts up,
Strong gusts of wind
Then the rain,
Slowly at first
Then-
Fast and hard.

I close my eyes and listen to the sounds
And I picture the ocean
Huge waves crashing against the shore.

Then-sudden calmness
And the waves steadily lap the shore.

I feel the mist of the rain on my face
And in my mind
I turn it into the spray of seawater.

A sudden wave soaks me through.

I open my eyes and see the lightning
I can feel the thunder in my chest,
While the winds sweep my hair away from my face.

The rain slows to a steady beat,
Nothing but a drizzle.

Suddenly all is still
The wind abruptly ceases,
And the rain is all but mist.

The wet sidewalks,
The lingering smells
Are now the only evidence left of the storm.

I watch as the sky slowly brightens
And the clouds fade into wisps of white.