Suddenness Of The Storm Poem by Deanna Samuels

The storm came unexpectedly, creeping in surreptitiously
Dark clouds gathered as an angry crowd brewing and stewing
The sky blackened without break in shade or canopy
From horizon to horizon, darkness pervaded completely
Silence fell, not a sound, a whisper, a twitter of bird
As though an expectancy of doom, all breath was held

Suddenly, without preamble warning, lightning flashed
Herculean fans of jagged bright streaks zapped above
Illuminating the land below with eerie ghostly shadow
Of subdued black and white in silvery haze bold relief
The waiting thunderclap followed almost instantaneously
So ear shatteringly loud, drowned out all audible sound

It was as though the heavens wanted to scream and shout
Bringing comfort as disembowelling all troubles and strife
For a few split-seconds, numbness penetrated all surround
As though nature itself needed time to recover, catch breath
The momentary calm over, thunder and lightning came again
Flashing and noisy but lacking same urgent fervency as began

The storm raged through its anger, darkness still hung over
The heavens opened, rain and hail fell with great ferocity
Flattening delicate plants, swelling gentle brooks into torrents
Pelting down roofs into gutters, rain barrels fill to overflowing
Low-lying roads disappeared, transformed to swift running rivers
Gardens and fields submerged, unable to absorb such deluge

Hours passed, rain eased, clouds lightened, quietness overtook
Chinks of sky appeared, a few trills from birds slowly rousing
It was over, the storm had abated, receded, moved on
Leaving the land below water logged, soft and spongy
And yet, refreshed, regenerated, revitalized, renewed
Emerging boldly, bravely, from the suddenness of the storm

Written by the author at Richmond Hill, Ontario - 7th June 2016