A Fateful Blow

The clattering wind came back again

In the cold, dark hours of the morn,

There must have been such a mighty wind

In the hour that I was born.

For I went outside to savour it,

I love the wind in the trees,

Anything from a sultry blow

To an ice cold winter breeze.

 

And Miriam always chided me

I should keep the door pulled to,

‘You may delight in the wind at night

I don’t share in that with you.’

‘Doesn’t it tell you the earth’s alive

When it’s breathing, Oh so hard?’

‘That may be so, but just keep the blow

Trapped in our own backyard.’

 

It rattles around the chimney pots,

It lifts the tin on the roof,

And drives the rain to the window pane

As if to say, ‘Here’s proof!’

Proof that the world’s alive and well

When it howls and plucks at the eaves,

And swaying each branch so you can tell

By filling the air with leaves.

 

‘I don’t see the purpose that it serves,’

Miriam used to shout,

The wind replied and she almost died

When it blew the hearth fire out.

Hurtling down the chimney flue

Like a gale she’d made inside,

I said, ‘Just watch what you say and do,

Even the wind has pride!’

 

I’d say that the two were enemies

From the time she opened her mouth,

‘It’s wrecking my pink anemones

When it blows from the freezing south.’

I told her to hold her anger in,

She was weak, the wind was strong,

She hadn’t the power to save her bower

While it knew not right from wrong.

 

It came to a head when she slammed the door

On an innocent springtime breeze,

And sealed her fate when she muttered hate,

She was brought down to her knees.

Walking along the clifftop path

As she did, and both of us must,

A sudden blow sent her over, though

It was merely a random gust.

 

I go each week to the cemetery

And I leave anemones,

While lurking around the headstones there

Is her ancient enemy,

If only she’d kept her tongue in check

She would still be here with me,

Not lying beneath a howling gale

In the local cemetery.

 

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[Barbz]

You are often inspired by the forces of nature. Of course we all know that Mother Nature can wreak havoc against us when evil dwells in our midst. It seems to me best to hold your tongue, for surely you will pay the price. Not only do loose lips sink ships, they seem to attract vengeance. Bring on the anemones, the howling winds will surely make short of them........Miriam should have learned her lesson when at first "the wind replied and she Almost died".......perfect, DLP, just Perfect!!

[Simran Kewlani]

I love it, no other words can even show my appreciation towards this piece.

[Workvio]

Wow, a good chuckle over my morning coffee is the best way to start any day, but I will say that the wind is the only friend who knows what's up in working that magic of shutting a woman up ... Otherwise, one can only live in hope of a good chest cold to come her way in silencing her complaining ways, and on that day I walk this earth with a smile, hoping she stays sick for quite a while, but not so ill that she cannot still set supper upon table for me to dine in blissful silence divine ... Now you got me talking rhymes, but there is no riddle as to why she divorced me, now is there? ... All your poetry is such fun and pleasantly intelligent entertainment to enjoy in savoring every witty line full of wisdom that this younger know it all generation could learn a thing or two from ... Bravo!

[A Soap Mess Stories]

I'll never look at the wind again after reading this. Interesting read David.

[R Smith]

good one David, the wind takes revenge! marvelous idea, your sheer imagination works overtime whenever you lift a pen i think, that wind is certainly whistling around my town these days, seems odd in June, makes me think somethings going on, weird times :)

[Valentine]

A sad ending that had me smiling at the way you lay the tale out for us to read. It just does not pay to mess with Mother Nature or Father Wind. Nice write David. Valentine

[Marie]

In the end human beings are not stronger than the elements, no matter how many walls we put up. The gods of the earth are not to be trifled withlll

By the way, isn't "freezing south" and oxymoron. Though I realized you need a word to rhyme with "mouth."

[David Lewis Paget]

Not if you live in Australia, Marie. We get the icy winds coming straight off from Antarctica, and believe me, they are freezing.

[Lyn Croker Paget]

I liked the lines
Doesn't it tell you the earth's alive
When it's breathing oh so hard
Those words really draw you in to experience the magnitude of Nature's force.
The wind howling and menacing one minute to an innocent Springtime breeze.
You can liken it to two female forces battling it out.
In Ithe end Miriam 's nastiness was certainly settled with Karma sealing her fate on the clifftop path.
A lesson, to treat Mother Nature with respect. A great write about t he Elements. DLP

[andrew mitchell]

David great write on the forces of nature the wind, and how one must be careful cursing Mother Nature! Karma goes around and bites you! That's why I don't do parachute jumping just my luck it wouldnt open!

[Colorado Brian]

I read this poem and I'll tell you now, I thought it was really nice. With a gale force wind I'll be back again, because I want to read it twice.

[David Lewis Paget]

I'm glad that you liked my windy blow,
that you answered it in verse,
there's not many readers can, you know,
and in truth, I've seen much worse.