Tornado Weather
http://www.maverickmagazine.com/articles/263/1/Tornado-Weather/Page1.html
Michael R. Collings
Michael R. Collings' poems have appeared in multiple print and online journals and anthologies, as well as in several collections: A Season of Calm Weather(1974); Naked to the Sun (1985); Dark Transformations (1990); and Matrix(1995). He teaches English at Pepperdine University, where he also serves as Director of Creative Writing and, for the past six years, as Poet-in-Residence. Most of his poetry deals with images from nature, reflecting both Collings' heritage and his enduring interests.By Michael R. Collings
Published on 07/10/2004
Brittleness in light-
stark bright yellow
above circling dun bluffs-
stark blighting blackness in the west-
heavy electric air that stills
birdsong, and silences
July afternoon breeze.
stark bright yellow
above circling dun bluffs-
stark blighting blackness in the west-
heavy electric air that stills
birdsong, and silences
July afternoon breeze.
Brittleness in light-
stark bright yellow
above circling dun bluffs-
stark blighting blackness in the west-
heavy electric air that stills
birdsong, and silences
July afternoon breeze.
Something-Coming-Soon-
scalp-itching, eye-twitching
weight of unnamable
Something-Soon-
And when it comes, relief
almost
before the terror of wind-fingers
hooking asphalt shingles,
of our frightened corner-huddle
with silent spiders
in the concrete basement
while the unseen-but-heard
funnel winds itself into a summer frenzy
not two blocks away-
dreadnought whine that blots
all other sounds along
the line of wood-shake homes
that shudder at its passing.
And
then
half-remembered
deafness as
it dies
and
drops
and
silver twilight blends the Rimrocks
surrounding Billings-
black slicks of water
studded with twisted branches like
ragged spears;
wheatfields snarled in good-morning
wisps of shattered gold;
windows broken, trees broken, power
lines broken into black bones
along the road-
and silver twilight
blends rain-black cliffs
with the passing breath
of Death.
Copyright © Michael R. Collings, 2004. All Rights Reserved.
stark bright yellow
above circling dun bluffs-
stark blighting blackness in the west-
heavy electric air that stills
birdsong, and silences
July afternoon breeze.
Something-Coming-Soon-
scalp-itching, eye-twitching
weight of unnamable
Something-Soon-
And when it comes, relief
almost
before the terror of wind-fingers
hooking asphalt shingles,
of our frightened corner-huddle
with silent spiders
in the concrete basement
while the unseen-but-heard
funnel winds itself into a summer frenzy
not two blocks away-
dreadnought whine that blots
all other sounds along
the line of wood-shake homes
that shudder at its passing.
And
then
half-remembered
deafness as
it dies
and
drops
and
silver twilight blends the Rimrocks
surrounding Billings-
black slicks of water
studded with twisted branches like
ragged spears;
wheatfields snarled in good-morning
wisps of shattered gold;
windows broken, trees broken, power
lines broken into black bones
along the road-
and silver twilight
blends rain-black cliffs
with the passing breath
of Death.
Copyright © Michael R. Collings, 2004. All Rights Reserved.