“Storm Upon the Dunes”

The storm wings across the dunes

Thunder is its’ voice to be dreaded

The wind braces up – then finds itself accelerating

Opens the gaits – galloping ghosts of lightning in the offing

Behaves with un-gratuitous folly as it bests the ocean’s roar

The rain rides the wind – the skies are riven

And bursts as a wave from the clouds that impend

Then climbs down on stormy ladders – one rung at a time

The tempest’s onslaught charges the stormy skies

Lightning strikes the highest points as the thunder claps for more

The wind delegates the ocean waves to lash the affrighted shore

As swift as a darkened shadow, as long as a dreadful dream –

The rain begins to carve its’ name with slanting lines

Its’ signature most illegible, but most assured

Ever expanding, the storm enlarges its’ field of view

And sets its’ sight upon the dunes

Where grains of sand one by one are quickly deluged

Its’ spirits bruised by the storm’s fierce intensity

And footprints are washed away like the remains of the day

As are the echoes of conquering children

Their fate is the common fate of all Into each life some rain must fall

Just as the sand-dunes, heaped one upon another

Hide each the first, so in life are the former

Deeds are quickly hidden by those that follow after

But still dreaming like the sand-dunes

Taking shape – not fearing the hand of fate

Not hearing lonely winds great wail

That grasps the sand-dune’s grass –

Fastening itself – seeking to rout its’ very spirit

But soon tires and is spurned –

Making it as momentary as a sound

For the wind itself has blown away the storm

And a bright new day always follows

So quick bright good things come to warm.

Copyright © 2004 R. Lance Sheridan

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Tinka Boukes