Storm Upon The Dunes Poem by Robert Sheridan

The storm wings across the dunes
Thunder is its’ voice to be dreaded
The wind braces up – then finds itself accelerating
Opens the gaits – galloping ghosts of lightning in the offing
Behaves with un-gratuitous folly as it bests the ocean’s roar
The rain rides the wind – the skies are riven
And bursts as a wave from the clouds that impend
Then climbs down on stormy ladders – one rung at a time
The tempest’s onslaught charges the stormy skies
Lightning strikes the highest points as the thunder claps for more
The wind delegates the ocean waves to lash the affrighted shore
As swift as a darkened shadow, as long as a dreadful dream –
The rain begins to carve its’ name with slanting lines
Its’ signature most illegible, but most assured
Ever expanding, the storm enlarges its’ field of view
And sets its’ sight upon the dunes
Where grains of sand one by one are quickly deluged
Its’ spirits bruised by the storm’s fierce intensity
And footprints are washed away like the remains of the day
As are the echoes of conquering children
Their fate is the common fate of all Into each life some rain must fall
Just as the sand-dunes, heaped one upon another
Hide each the first, so in life are the former
Deeds are quickly hidden by those that follow after
But still dreaming like the sand-dunes
Taking shape – not fearing the hand of fate
Not hearing lonely winds great wail
That grasps the sand-dune’s grass –
Fastening itself – seeking to rout its’ very spirit
But soon tires and is spurned –
Making it as momentary as a sound
For the wind itself has blown away the storm
And a bright new day always follows
So quick bright good things come to warm.

'2007'