First Storm Chase

Under skies, folded
in thirds and thirds
again by God's great
hand --- suddenly
humbled by His size
and Texas. How
big both are --- eyelids
skinned back in the
wind as I scan the
clouds for trouble ---
none this day. Don't think
they'll shut again,
these eyes that took in
her first storm chase ---
confronted fear and
watched the Master
paint beauty in the
expanse above. =]

(c) 2010, Karla Dorman (3/24, late)

Someone Else's Storm

Someone else's storm becomes
mine as I stare up into the crystal
perfection of azured skies --- my

heart breaks. Not because it's
nice here, and it is, but because
across areas of the Deep South,

others watch the roil of clouds
drop one tornado after another.
A high risk of more happening

before the day is over, continuing
through the night --- a chaser's
dream. Would much rather see

them in a large empty field instead
of in communities where people
live/work/play. The first images

from Yazoo City, Mississippi suck
tears from my eyes and prayers
from my soul --- here, the sun is

still shining, but for how long?
This is when I hate the weather,
when their storm becomes mine.

(c) 2010, Karla Dorman (4/24)

Need Storms. NOW.

A stormchaser needs storms. And
when there aren't any, she will make
one anywhere she can ---- even if
only in a shadow made by a tree.

Squint your eyes and tell me that
doesn't look like a tornado bearing
down. SDS isn't pretty ---- trust me.
Got me looking at nonexistant

rotation on the side of a building,
for Pete's ---- know the neighbors
are wondering about my sanity.
Fully expecting a knock at the door

from the friendly folk on the mental
health ward of the hospital. They
might give me a new jacket with
long sleeves and take me away ...

(c) 2010, Karla Dorman (7/19)

Whether Or Not, Weather

It all depended on the side
you were on, whether or
not you got weather. Here,

not much. East of us, too
much. The dryline moved
through just enough to

keep us clear. In other
communities, the sky fell
or blew away entirely. The

clouds were so massive,
they were seen from miles
away. You could see they

meant business. All we
had was a beautiful sunset
--- others not as fortunate.

(c) 2010, Karla Dorman (10/25)

Poem, 'Playing With My Food,' (c) 2010, Karla Dorman

Mom told me to stop playing
with my food. I kept making
towering Cu with them, with
backsheared anvils and
overshooting tops. Weather

was fixing to get bad. Then
it started hailing when I took
the ice out of my glass and
shot it at my annoying little
brother with my spoon. Did

not mean to pop Dad in the
eye --- that was when he
thundered, 'ENOUGH. Go
to your room.' I stomped
up the stairs, decided that

a bath was in order, if only
to watch the tornado in the
drain: 'IT'S AN F - 5!!!' Dad
issued the warning from
the kitchen: 'GO. TO. BED.'

Dried off, got under the
covers, began flicking the
lamp switch on and off ---
lightning, you know. That's
when the power went off:

Dad again. He took every
bulb from every light. Guess
I'll have to dream storms,
since it's dark. Some don't
appreciate meteorology ...

It's Been FAR Too Long ...

... since I updated this blog. I'm sorry ... will get back in the swing of things! Have more storm poems and images to share. Bear with me ...

Recipe for Disaster

Image of StormSpinner with her 'brew'
(c) Karen Lynn Vidra

"Recipe for Disaster"

You've heard of 'White Lightning.'
You haven't had anything yet
until you taste StormSpinner's
Homemade StormBrew.
It will make you wish you had
drunk a Hurricane, instead. =]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Take two parts sky, fold.
*Spray the pan liberally with CAPE.
*Add wind shear.
*Remove the CAP at the triple point
of warm front/cold front/dryline.
*One drop of instability to make things pop.
*Add cauliflower towers of convection.
*Boil until the SPC issues a tornado watch,
pour into heated drinking glasses.
*Garnish with chaser convergences.
Observe the stillness of the air around you.
*Drink, until you howl. =]

(c) 2009, Karla Dorman (9/14)