The Storm Poem by Emma Alberts

The Storm



A thunderstorm
Blankets over us
As we wait it out inside
Blinding lightning flashes
1,2,3,4,5
6,7,8,9,10
BOOM!
A burst of thunder
Rolls by
Sheets of rain
Collide with the roof
Making a fast, constant
Pitter-patter, pitter-patter, pitter-patter
The pine tree
Named Lil' Prickles
Snapped like a toothpick
Suddenly...
The lights go out
Dad, luckily, has a flashlight
And hunts out the candles
One for each of us
Mom puts Carl in his crib
And sings him a nice lullaby
Finally, he falls asleep
No one talks, but
Sometimes the best converstion
Has no words
Dad takes out his briefcase
Working on bills, probably
Again he asks that one question
'Honey, why don't you get a job? '
'Because I need to take care of Carl'
'Put him in a daycare! '
'He's not ready yet! '
'Make him ready! '
The shallow, soft voices
Turn to an uproaring yell
Dad pushes her away
She lays a hand on his shoulder
But he shakes it off
Staring for the door
With the car keys
But oddly...
The baby sents out a cry
Stopping each voice
Each foot step
And every breath
Mom and Dad rush to the crib
Singing their lullaby
I sit with watery eyes
Wondering if it's over
Once the baby is asleep
Dad grabs Mom's hand
And they walk
All the way to bed
I've never heard
Of one baby
Stopping a fight
And making them love again

(Spring 2008, Age 11, Door County, Wisconsin)

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