Storm

I am 73 snug in bed
Next to Carol a fat cat
Between us with a red dog
Curled on Carol’s far side
The window wide open,
When I hear the heavy
Rain pound down
Lightning hits
In the hills to
The east
Lighting
Up the
Room
In a
Flash
That sends
The dog racing
Down the stairway
The cats scrambling
Under the bed and even
Wakes Carol who wobbles
To the window as a second
Lightning bolt hits the hillsides
Above us eastward flashing
Our bedroom backlighting
The pine and cypress
Trees just outside
Our window as
The wind
Drives
The rain
Briefly into
Our room onto
Carol who half asleep
Steps back into bed sliding
Under our cover quilt back
Into the warmth and
Safety of our bed
Warm dry cozy
Asleep in a
Few
Seconds
As I lie awake
Hour after hour
Watching listening
To the rainfall lightning
Strikes and wind in the
Trees aware I am on
Land hoping those
At sea are safe
Tonight in the
Storm far
Out to
Sea.
I
Imagine
The pitch and
Roll of the ship
Where they sleep
Too exhausted to be
Aware of the storm at
Sea dreaming of family
And friends at home
Whom they hope
Soon to see
Again as a
Pencil
Rolls back
And forth by
Their bedside,
In my mind I
Muse there
I will be at
Sea in a
Week
Glad
To be
Back to
My cabin
Bed at rest
In my other
Home far
Away.