The Storm

It's a fallen world and man's sins will will never end.

I gazed up at the evil, formidable sky from my window.

The rain had stopped along with the thunder, lightning and wind.

The storm had passed.

Clouds were parting like clenched fists rubbing against blinking eyelids trying to regain focus.

Like a waking child trying to erase sleep from his eyes.

A spiritual exhaling.

A renewed sense of freshness was attempting to take over the scene.

But something was wrong.

As I looked around, things were the same.

The changes were only superficial.

I still saw indifference.

Pride and greed.

Lust and envy.

Gluttony, wrath and sloth.

Prejudice.

Bigotry.

Thievery.

Hate.

Unfairness.

Injustice.

Abuse.

Lies.

Cheating and corruption.

The lightning had done it's best to illuminate.

The thunder to shake and rattle.

The wind to sweep.

Even the rain had pitched in, attempting to wash away the stains of a hundred generations, with it's weeping.

But there was no sunshine and no rainbow.

The sins of man were departing but only to relocate.

Caught up in prophecies, presages and prestidigitation.

Slight of hand in the stratus.

They float around and have to land somewhere.

They travel about like a frequent flier.

They hide in the clouds like a magician and reappear.

All they need is the right word from the wrong person.

The mojo of incantations.

Presto Chango.

Abbracadabra.

Alakazam.

Hocus Pocus.

Sim Sim Sala Bim.

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo.

Izzy wizzy, let's get busy.

Shazam and Open Sesame.

Meeska, Mooska.

Shemhamforash.

Voila.

Sometimes even expletives suffice

and just like that, they're back again ...

... 'til the next storm ...

Reviews

[TerryDarcy-Ryan akaSh..]

This had a beautiful and a frightening tone to it. Your words have so much power. This piece has a message of vulnerability. We are not in control of mother nature, but we have free will. We only answer for us and not another. Although, There is a burden some of us do and may carry for our fellow man. I as always am moved by your writing, you put so much in it. I can feel the emotions here. The imagery made me giggle for a moment I thought you should land that storm east of Kansas somewhere in Oz. Rock on. Thank you for sharing God Bless

[Pete]

i love your thoughts on this piece. you are able to gleen so much by reading between the lines and gathering my meanings. i am always amazed at peoples interpretations of a piece. awesome review from by an awesome soul.

[TerryDarcy-Ryan akaSheerTerror]

Pete, I love the power of words. As Poets, we always see much more in a single word than most. I live to express my emotions from experience good or bad. The stories I live to tell keep me grounded. It is sometimes difficult to find the time. However, I am the one writing and jotting down a few thoughts in a meeting when I should be problem solving. These thoughts come to life in due time and it's liberating. Thank you for your compliments and reassurance that I am not alone. God Bless

Sheer Terror

[Pete]

i do too. they fascinate me and tap into emotions like nothing else can. sometimes i wake in the middle of the night or standing in line at the grocery store or walking down the street. something goes off and i have to start scribbling so that it is not lost. great feeling for sure to release what is locked away inside. - best regards as always

[Hebe]

Hi Pete, I love the powerful opening.... and the anticlimax of reality..... and the ending makes you the " most interesting man in the world " :)

[Pete]

Hi Hebe. hope you had a blessed holiday season. haha like your comment. :)

[Diamond]

Pete..You have a very special and appealing style to portray the image of forlorn mankind or world in general. Stunning imagery and vehement expression of despair.

[Diamond]

I loved this line very much.
"Clouds were parting like clenched fists rubbing against blinking eyelids trying to regain focus."

[Pete]

hmm. thank you Queen. that's a very keen observation. i don't wish to appear gloomy but i do write what i feel at any given time - often times about sad or unpleasant matters of life.

Thank you for recognizing one of my favorite lines as well. appreciated. :)

[Josie E. Cook M. A.]

I admire the layout and structure here as I read it.
Nice reflection on what occurs...

[Pete]

thanks so much for appreciating Josie! :)

[Giulia King]

Love this poem Pete! Very graphic, powerful. When I was done reading it, it left me thinking about it. So I read it again :)

[Pete]

thank you Gulia. you are very encouraging and i always appreciate your thoughts. best regards. :)

[Cyprian Van Dyke]

Entertaining to read, Pete. You had me looking up words like crazy, thank you, always enjoy that. The first three stanza's where so powerful and you held me to the end.

"The lightning had done it's best to illuminate.
The thunder to shake and rattle.
The wind to sweep.
Even the rain had pitched in, attempting to wash away the stains of a thousand generations, with it's weeping.
But there was no sunshine and no rainbow." powerfully put!

[Pete]

thank you CVD. appreciate your thoughts as always. :)

[Cyprian Van Dyke]

You're most welcome! :)

[Lydia Shutter]

I enjoyed the wonderful imagery in this one. Yes, we do go through storms in life and sometimes after the storm there is a calm...and understanding...and we can go on feeling refreshed and renewed. Not always he case though. I especially liked the "incantations". Good work. Lydi**

[Pete]

thank you Lydi. i appreciate your thoughts.

[Penelope Lee]

I really like your use of culturally significant terms and the like. You addressed all the various forms of life centered storms.

[Pete]

thank you Penelope for the thoughtful review. appreciated.

[Sami Khalil]

Humanity had suffered a storm after another and many of it has been self inflicted. The innocent is suffering world-wide but the rich and powerful are prospering more and more. The vast majority of people are a check away from bankruptcy. A powerful poem with many dimensions...:)..................

[Pete]

wonderful observation kind sir. well appreciated. thank you for visiting this write and sharing thoughts.

[Sami Khalil]

You are welcome...:)...................