The Unanswered Question Poem by Chris Embrick

Nature's fury
the sky opened
the ocean fell
lightning crackled, windows rattled
the twisted wind shrieked and wailed
and on my roof the pounding hail
in the chaos of the noise
muffled sounds
probably some frightened animal
the unfamiliar sounds I soon dismissed
Why would anyone be out in a storm like this
relentless, pounding
the storm lasted hours
then after midnight the wind calmed
and in dawn's twilight dreaming
twice awakened by an owl
through my window mornings rays
across my yard the fallen tree
and lifeless on the cold, wet ground
my neighbor Jack lay face down
Many days have come and gone
the dream comes back time and again
and I listen more intently
to the forest, rain, and wind
Sleep's never easy
I'm haunted by the muffled sounds
until each storm passes by
I still hear the muffled sounds.
Maybe his life I could have saved
why he was out in a storm like this
he took the answer to the grave.