Late Night Thoughts

Hurricanes

If you've never been in a hurricane, you wouldn't understand
Unless you've seen the disaster
It must be part of some Great plan
Your senses heighten to the highest degree
You hear wind clawing at your roof
Even the leaves leaving trees
You hear pops of electricity
As power lines fall
Your phone is infected with notifications
Saying
"THIS IS IT, STAY OR FLEE, DON'T PANIC, MAKE YOUR CALL"
You question your survival plans
As you listen to the battery powered radio
That sits on a covered table,
  aglow with maybe too many candles
You've showered right before it hits
You've eaten anything that could decay
Now all you can do is wait
Hoping you, and your loved ones, see the next day
You smell the rain, and wet wood
  and the smoke from small flames
You pray quietly or out loud
Either way, you pray
You hear crashes from down the street
That's another house or car gone
You listen for the twisters
  that you know all too well may come
You think of the value of your home

After this, would it still sell?
Would it get you through this?
Would it survive another spell?

You hold your pets close
They're afraid too, but they trust you
You think of exit routes, should the walls collapse
  and wonder just how much you can carry

Is the distance from the lake far enough
  that the flood won't reach you?
Will your neighbors hear your knocks over the thunder 
  if you can make it there after your roof crumbles
  under the weight of a tree?
Do you have enough gas if your car doesn't crumble
  or float away?
Will you have to work tomorrow?
Should you do some homework now?
Should you drink to calm your nerves?
Will you be able to help others?
Or will you be too busy cleaning up the wreckage of
  your house?
Will you sleep at all tonight?
Is it safe to use the toilet?
Did you save enough water?
Where will your pets go if you're homeless?
Where do your pets "go" if they must "go" in the house?

You imagine things flying through the sky,
  carried by the force
The wildlife around you staying still or flying north
The dirt and clay that smells of your childhood
Splattering on your mailbox
Every sign of life outside is silent
There is only the storm, there is only the storm
You feel guilty for the excitement
  the adrenaline is giving you
But you can't ignore the feeling
If the worst happens, that's how you will come through
You resist the urge to go out and scream into the sky
To bare your teeth and war with nature itself
You resist the urge to cower in the corner,
  while disrepair becomes your wealth
But the storm goes on, so you must wait
It's all you can do
To sit with your loved ones and listen
To the weatherman and the rain

Is that a pause in the wind?
Another gust hits, your boarded windows hold
You settle in, and just stay grateful
At least you're not cold
No, you know it could be worse
You think of those who are dying as you observe
Through the walls that protect you
The devastation you can't yet see
The reminder of all that is good on this Earth