The Storm That Could
Adelaide Under Siege…the storm that could
A storm ravaging the southern states, the likes of which not seen for fifty odd years. Major floods, towns evacuated, houses torn, falling trees and power lines all down. For the first time I’ve seen, the entire state was powerless; suburb by suburb slowly returning after five odd hours. Nature is a power we all too easily forget, as we are so vulnerable to her every mood.
The wind is furious, the rain intense,
was it something I said?
Flooded homes and fallen trees,
snug in the mist of whirling, thrashing seas,
and here I sit in the dark, by candle light,
eating cold left-overs, I think,
no power, no warmth, no comfort in sight,
amid a storm, an every fifty year plight.
The lightning strikes have sent my cat catatonic:
so that’s where that comes from,
and he’s tucked away in a cupboard,
eyes closed in frozen fear,
and I’m trying to sleep, bide the time
until power returns and I can write,
hoping nature will relent
and my roof remains where it was meant.
Five hours gone and the power is back,
its a miracle, and the wind has settled a little,
but the outside growl doesn’t go away,
on and off its here to stay, a point to be made,
and the cat alights for serious hugs,
by my side for the night,
at least there’s heating and hot food to make,
I think we’ll live, another day to sate.
It’s not over yet,
but here I think we’ve missed the worst,
others not so lucky: splintered homes,
floods and lightning, lives tested to limits,
and in silent thought, one realizes
how vulnerable we are, to nature’s whim,
and the imbalance we’ve caused with everything,
now lashing out in protest.
A silent thought for those most effected.
Tony DeLorger © 2016
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I am glad to hear you were fortunate, Tony, with no apparent damage other than losing your power. I read it was classed as a “non-tropical cyclone.” Anyone who says the weather patterns are not changing is fooling themselves. I’m glad your cat recovered from his ‘catatonic” state also. We have had some rainfall but nothing violent, although some parts of NSW have been warned to prepare for the worst.
Yes I think NSW is about to get another dose, particularly in the flooded regions: that news is not good. We’re in for another night of it, but I suspect we’ll be alright here. Not in the most troubled areas. Cheers!
Good grief! So glad you and Beast are okay and will hang on through the next onslaught. Bet he is loving those hugs. Do take care.
This verse is very nicely penned, tense, but well done, Tony.
PS: first stanza third line end: tries – trees
We’ll be fine Phyllis, and thanks for the typo check. Cheers!