The Feeding

Smoke on the horizon
can't be good. The sun turns
to blood, the sky, black. Flames
hunger for tinder-dry
grasses burnt by drought; they

feed on the fear coming
closer with each gust of
wind. Mile by mile, they get
nearer - how soon before
we see their teeth, gnashing?

(c) 2008, Karla Dorman

Mantra

One careless action, one
wayward spark and poof! the
grass goes up in flame, the
sky fills with smoke, the sun

becomes a ball of blood.
Texas is burning once
again - drought conditions.
Need rain - who would think we'd

be saying that after
the soaking we got last
summer? A new mantra
needed: let's meditate

on w e t. Need the rain, need
the rain, need the rain. None
in the forecast until
maybe Sunday. All they

can say until then is
dry and wind. Just what we
don't want to hear: repeat:
need the rain, need the r a i n!

(c) 2008, Karla Dorman

Mr Kleen

... could have done without the
extreme hoovering of
Mr Kleen on a Spring
cleaning binge: when he said
he wanted things dusted,

that's exactly what he
meant. None of this namby-
pamby-swipe-rag-around-
in-order-to-appease.
No - he picked things up, swept

aside dustbunnies and
cobwebs that had taken
residence, along with
papers, long forgotten.
Pots and dishes, items

to be thrown through windows;
he scrubbed floors and walls so
clear, you couldn't see them
any more - unless you
looked a mile away. He's

a demon when it comes
to wanting things neat - it's
just too bad Mr Kleen
forgot to put things back
where they belonged, before -

(c) 2008, Karla Dorman

Tears In The Forecast - TV Made Me Do It!

Day Two: Was dampened by
tears in the forecast, as Karen
couldn't join me. A mistake
was made, don't know how ...
so I had to wing this on my
own. Got to the studio around
1:30 PM, met up with the guys,
had a brief rundown on what
was going to happen. They got
set up, and then: ACTION!
Met David Finfrock, the Chief
Meteorologist at NBC Channel 5,
KXAS Fort Worth. It was like
we'd known each other forever,
we talked like old friends as we
discussed all things weather.
Took a tour of the StormTrack
5 Weather Studio (in HD, yet!),
saw all the myriad radars
and technology used to bring
viewers the latest information.
Watched David prepare for his
live forecasts from the sidelines,
got to watch the TV anchors
give the news, and then it was
his turn. His calm voice explained
the weather in a way that was
clearly understood, not dumbed
down; and then it was over, the
5:00 PM local news, on to the
national/international events
of the day while David prepared for
his second live broadcast. Time
for the 6:00 news: three, two,
ONE. After that, some exterior
shots, a quick interview, and
then ... presenting the newest
meteorologist at NBC Channel 5,
KXAS, Karla Dorman!! Greenscreen
time!! *o, nutz. kept messin' UP*
Take two - Take THREE - Got it on
the third take. Doing the weather
a whole lot harder than watching!
David said that when he goes on
vacation, he knows who he's calling
to fill in for him! *i hope that was
a joke* Very nice, very serious
about his job, knows his weather
well: been at the studio 32 years!
I'd have some mighty big shoes to
fill. A meteorologist I am not. A
Poet, yes, a weathergirl ... nah.
Got to present him with the poem
I wrote for him ("Big Weather"), he
was very impressed. That made
me feel so good. He said I have a
way with words. We discussed my
phobia, he understands because
Texas has just that: big weather.
But knowing a little more of the
science behind the forecasts, the
knowledge that they are on top
of things lessens the fear a little
bit: 'til the storms are overhead.
All in all, a good day, even though
Karen couldn't join us today. Maybe
that will change later in the forecast.

(c) 2007, Karla Dorman

Television Debut ... TV Made Me Do It!

Think calming thoughts, as I stare
into the depths of the lens
right in front of my face. Don't
look into the camera,
look in the distance, over
here, please. YES! That's much better.
Look over here, this way, that
way, relax. Can we have that
shot again? Lighting off - got
it, that's it! Perfect!! So tell
me about yourself, what is
StormPhobia, how long have
you had it, how do you deal?
Uhhhhhhhhhhhh *HolySmokes, I'm blowin'
it* That's okay, don't be so
nervous. Again? From the top -
... Phobia: irrational
fear of something; my fear is
storms. I've have it since I - CUT!!!!
Need to speak a bit louder
and s l o w e r. But not too slow.
Again? From "I've had it since ..."
*Okay* I've had it since I
was a child, don't know when I
haven't had it ...... the whole day
went like that, talk, retake, talk,
retake, I'm afraid I was
doing terrible. They just
wanted to get each scene right.
They said I was doing great.
*O, I certainly hope so*
Didn't know there was so much -
TV - in making TV!!
Karen and I made it, though,
on to Day Two tomorrow!

(c) 2007, Karla Dorman

On A Tear ... TV Made Me Do It!

On a tear: ripping through
the apartment, a storm
bent not on destruction,
but on cleaning from top

to bottom: the floors, swept
and mopped! The furniture,
dusted! Dishes put up:
laundry washed, folded, put

away. Batteries for
the camera charged! Make
sure you have the items
they asked you to have. Check

off items when finished: done,
done, DONE! It looks/smells
good. Can't sleep, might as well
do something constructive

(instead of thinking nerves) ....

(c) 2007, Karla Dorman

The Countdown Begins ... TV Made Me Do It!

Drawing of Karla and Karen (c) Ron Axelson (Thank you, Sketchman!)

The Countdown Begins ... TV Made Me Do It!

Five days until TV
Made Me Do It! Getting
nervous, but excited
at the same time. Two days
of filming - get to read
some of my poems on
air - get to talk about
my fear of storms: how they
affect me and my twin;
get to talk about storms
we've been in; what it's like
to have StormPhobia.
This, the first day. The next,
get to go to Fort Worth
NBC Channel 5
(KXAS) and meet
David Finfrock, (the Chief
Meteorologist),
spend the whole day with him,
see how he prepares for
the weather, perhaps do
my own forecast ("We're all
gonna diiiiiieeeeeeeeee"). Just might if
I say or do something
stupid on air! Never
done this before. Do us
a favor: pray for us!!!

(c) 2007, Karla Dorman

1/17/96

Night. Rain, and the roar
of thunder concealed
the monster lurking
in the clouds - never
heard it until the
sirens began to
wail - by then, it was
too late to sound the
warning. The funnel
formed on top of us,
peeling back the roof
of the apartment
complex I live in ...
severe weather can
happen any time:
from experience,
I know. This was my
third, the scariest,
the closest one. My
apartment took two
month to repair. Been
in two, since then - yep:
five. It's no wonder
I don't feel safe when
bad storms come this way!

(c) 2008, Karla Dorman.

Batten Down The Hatches

Blow away or drown: you get to
take your pick, lucky you! Severe
storms in the forecast from later
tonight through the day tomorrow -

Hail, high winds, tornadoes, heavy
rain - the whole shooting gallery
being aimed at North Texas. All
we can do is hope and pray and

batten down the hatches and wish
we had adequate shelter - hate
this time of year, I really do.
Would much rather have ice or snow.

(c) 2008, Karla Dorman.

When Mama Ain't Happy ...

Calm one minute, seething with anger
the next - Mama's in a mood. Best to
stay out of her way until the storm
blows over - when she ain't happy, ain't

nobody happy. Believe it. Don't
know what I've done to tick her off - if
you need me, I'll be in the basement -
don't want to make her any madder!

(c) 2008, Karla Dorman

She Was That Big ...

SHE WAS THAT BIG ...

... full skirts flirted as she passed by -
all we got was clouds to the East
and some gusty winds. Those along
the Gulf Coast were getting pounded
by the beautiful disaster
Katrina was. She was that big:
before she caused misery and
destruction she peeked over my
shoulder as my twin sister took
the picture. Captured for a brief
moment in time, she then moved on,
riding off into the sunset.

(c) 2007, Karla Dorman

One Way To End The Drought

Skeletal branches of
winter scratch
the corneas of blue
(sk) ies, causing
vision to cloud up and
rain to fall ...

(c) 2008, Karla Dorman

The Dread Of Waiting

THE DREAD OF WAITING ...

... for the storm's approach,
wondering if it
will get as bad as
they say it could or
even if they'll form
at all: in the forecast.

So, here I sit: nerves
twanging the base of
my spine, ears tuned to
the radio. Would
not wish this stupid
fear on anyone -

ain't no way to live.

(c) 2008, Karla Dorman

Chaos Theory II

... . so, if i wish a storm away
from here and it causes death
and destruction someplace else,
am i . ... responsible? didn't mean to
let it go - the butterfly got away: flapped
its wings when the back was turned and
it escaped into the winds - its effects
felt far and wide. getting hard to
control this fear - somehow, i
feel like the one to blame . ...

(c) 2008, Karla Dorman

www.authorsden.com/stormspinner

Love/Hate

There is a side that is
lovely, when she shows her
gentleness, when she speaks
with softness in her voice.

It's when she picks things up,
throwing them at my head,
that has me beginning
to question our union -

always feel like I'm on
edge, walking on eggshells,
trying not to become
the target of her wrath ...

how can someone who's so
beautiful be so ... let
me shut my mouth, before
"she" wonders where I am ......

(c) 2008, Karla Dorman

www.authorsden.com/stormspinner

High Risk

The storms missed here - formed to the
east, to the south, getting worse
as they moved to the northeast:
HIGH RISK of severe weather
in the Tennessee Valley.
Memphis. Jackson. Other towns
in the path of the fury
funneling down from the clouds.
Who else will hear the winds scream
before the night is over?

(c) 2008, Karla Dorman.