Counting Blessings

Who would think the sun would
be so beautiful? Part of the sky
fell, ripped from the trees, left to
sparkle greenly on my eyes .. . ...

could have been worse. Others
to the south, east, north are not
as fortunate: all we lost were a
few leaves. They lost all, all but

their lives. Buzzing of chainsaws
and thundering hammers scent
ears with hope as they rebuild -
a strong, resilient sound as the

sun rises on the morning after
the tornadoes. It feels so good.

(c) 2008, Karla Dorman.

Deeper Shade of Chicken

Moderate means likely. A chance
of severe storms in the forecast
once again. Not so much today,

but tomorrow through tomorrow
evening, late. Repeat performance
of Monday's weather? Let's pray not:

know I'm supposed to trust in Him,
but when tornadoes are mentioned,
turn a deeper shade of chicken.

Maybe they'll come, maybe they won't,
and that's the rub: uncertainty.
Wondering. Keep us in your prayers -

(c) 2008, Karla Dorman

No. Safe. Place.

(My prayers for those affected by the Atlanta tornado.)

Even downtown buildings not
safe from the ravages of
the Beast roaring across the
roof - glass everywhere, nerves
shattered, sparkling on streets lit
by generator power
and the alternating red
and blue of emergency
vehicles demanding to
be let through - my own terror
remembered each time it storms.
This is what scares me the most:
having no. Safe. Place. To. Hide!
Underground shelters should be
mandatory down South: what
is the cost of one life worth??

(c) 2008, Karla Dorman

To Be Free

Night: Winter heavy,
presses. Who knew snow -
so light, so airy -
could have such tonnage
on the soul? Weary
of cold, of being
held prisoner by
the season: more than
ready for Spring, for
the release it brings -

(c) 2008, Karla Dorman

Spring, Arriving

I was snow: the end
of Winter: cold: grey:
lifeless. Making love
was Spring, arriving:
discovering the
color green: it had
always been there: in
the grass, in the trees,
in the growing things
under the blanket
of bitterness . .. . I
just didn't see it
until the moment
you awakened me . .. .

(c) 2008, Karla Dorman

Welcome To My Nightmare

I fight the darkening of the sky,
the lowering of clouds,
the rising of fear.
Sometimes, a basement's available,
others - not on your life!
Tornado coming!!

Can hear it roaring in the distance -
don't see it, just hear it.
Like dreams of falling:
you know, when you hit the ground, you'll die?
That scares me the most: will
I wake up in time?

(c) 2008, Karla Dorman

Too ... Too??

From one extreme to the
other right back to the
first: if you don't like the
weather now, wait a while -
too hot, too cold, too wet,
too dry, too stormy, too
calm, too windy, too - it
will return to what you
want - eventually -

(c) 2008, Karla Dorman