A Silent Preamble

“Something evil this way comes”

But not the result of pricking witches’ thumbs

Leaves are suddenly struck dumb

Making us sit up listening to nothing

Making soundless air more worrisome than racket

The minutes crawl like bedbugs up sleepy legs

All while we wait for identity of the silence

As the trees sound the warning

Their branches beat against the clapboard siding

Wanting to be let in

Abruptly changing their minds

Perhaps sensitive to neighborhood leaves holding still

Not wanting to add to the fear.

Something large makes its stealth-like approach known

Even as Nature tries once again to warn us

Leaves rustle

Then break away

Branches snap

Then trees uproot

Then…

A freight train off the rails from hell

Careens through our living room

Catapulting everything

Everyone

Upward

Leaving what remains…

Oh so naked to the starless sky