Wind

The sun hid behind a shroud
of dust blowing in from the
West. Lubbock inhaled into
the lungs, as easy as smoke,

sustained on winds in excess
of thirty five miles an hour,
driven deeper by gusts of
nearly hurricane force. Fires

broke out, fire departments stretched
to the end of their hoses
and patience as one got knocked
down and another began.

Walls vibrated, cracked under
the shouldering of the blast
determined to enter. Flights
canceled before the crash; live

wires fractured beneath the strain;
nerves were frayed by the banshee
howling outside their door - more
of this expected this week ...

(c) 2008, Karla Dorman