Five Seconds per Mile

I don't primarily think of my poetry as a means of teaching lessons or preaching morals.  I'm not saying there's anything wrong with using a poem in this way.  I just don't view my poetry like that--not usually.  Occasionally, however, a lesson will come along that seems ideally suited to be communicated through a poem. 

Such was the case here.  A few weeks ago, I was relieved one afternoon to find that a storm would pass just to the north of us.  As I listened to the thunderclaps in the distance, I realized that a life lesson was in play.  It is one that applies to weather events and many, many other situations in life.

I hope you'll keep this short verse in mind the next time you hear of a tragedy on the news.

Summer Thunder

I have been reminded several times already this summer of how powerless I am to protect the ones I love from the harsh realities of life. It's difficult to desire to do something to help but to know that there's not much you can do. I'm sure you have experienced this before. It's exactly how I felt a few weeks ago during a sudden afternoon thunderstorm and rain shower here in NH.

I hope you enjoy it!

Untitled

It snowed

Then it rained,

And we felt like we’d been cheated.

The raindrops froze,

Encasing every hillside and meadow

With an icy glaze

In a crystal coffin.

The trees bore the brunt

Of this wintry mix

As they stood with their arms raised

In defiance

Of the storm.

But weather is a despot

Undeterred by wood or will.

The next day

Our land sits glowing

But browbeaten.

Trees, young and old, are forced

To bow in submission

As they groan under the weight

Of winter’s tyranny.

A gang of grey clouds

Is storming in from the west

With their weapons loaded and ready.

We watch from our window

While we wait and wonder,

“Can these arms sustain

Their resistance

Until they can rise again

With the sunlight?”