Storm Poem by john tiong chunghoo

a whole upper row classes
move their furniture - the roar
rumbles through the eardrum
someone slices a bulbous pillow
and rips the darkness with her dexterous fingers
the tear comes away a broken mirror
a cache of memories flash from here
the wind whistles, the trees sigh,
water swirls and sketches the periphery
of the sky like a child - pieces of providence
riding the force of the winds in all directions

first version -
a whole upper row classes
move their old furniture -
the roar rumbles in the eardrum
someone slices a bulbous pillow
and rips the darkness with her fingers
the tear comes away a broken mirror
memories sad and sweet flash from here
the wind whistles, the trees sigh,
water swirls and sketches the periphery
of the sky like a child - pieces of providence
riding the force of the winds in all directions