Hurricane Watch............(for Terry)
Beneath a sky of quilted grey
The spray flies up from breakers
Now boarded mansions greet the gale
Lacking force to frighten tourists
Cast eyes upon the cresting waves,
the curious crowd the cliff walk
to watch the brave and foolish
as they challenge nature's rising surf.
backed by gusts of up to fifty knots,
so like the manes of steeds majestic
white caps gallop to the shore.
while ponchoed children, bug-eyed
wow the roiling sea, and old men snort:
"We've seen nor'easters in our day."
this tempest lures them to its edge,
inspiring one to say: "I live for this."
In truth though, three will die today.
Let salt air, fresh, invigorate,
And feel its fury fast approaching.
The wind. A storm. This hurricane.
© 1996, TAJ
