This is no lady

(in the grip of a storm)

On a day that's dull and dreary,
it's the fury of a windstorm
as it bellows out its anger,
as it whistles through the branches,
as it sets the brushwood swaying,
there is wailing, there is creaking
as what's left of winter's weeping
is swept far with bristle brushes
across a moaning, groaning sky.

When you rise to see the twisting
of the trees with limbs all thrashing
as they suffer where they're rooted,
as hard rain pretends its grieving
and the storm has barely started
you anticipate the danger
from this callous, mindless stranger,
while you question all his motives
with a suggestion he departs.

Yet he tells me his instruction
is in havoc and destruction.
He's important so he's showing
in a pique of vengeful discord,
that his strength lies in the blowing
and like skittkes down an alley,
he'll be downing them with laughter
after ripping slates from roofing
because he doesn't have a heart.

Reviews

[Intothemilkyway]

This is very beautiful Anne. Loved the part where he says he is important while he is not. And also where he doesn't have a heart. This poems shows very well your thoughts on the person, but in a very hidden way.
Here we have the tree and the big storm.
But im glad to know that in a storm , maybe big like this one you can free yourself from this heartless person.

[Chris Shaw]

Dear intothemilkywsy. So interesting to read where my lines took you. Always great to get the perspective from readers. I appreciate you.

Chris

[John the Baptist]

For years in the US, the weather service used to name hurricanes after women. Then that became regarded as sexist and so they started giving them men's names, too. This poem is set in the UK, and I don't know if the Brits give the storms names or not. The poet has very descriptively shown us this one's unruly behavior, so we must assume it's a guy. I can't see a girl ripping the slates from roofs. Complaining about needing a new roof, maybe.

[Chris Shaw]

We do have names for our storms and alternate between male and female as the USA do. The last storm was Ciara, she was so brutal
that I had to say, this was no lady. Used it in the title. We have storm Dennis on its way this weekend. Thank you JTB for your welcome visit.

Chris

[Ted Kniffen]

Heavy winds are part of the fabric in this part of the world...at the north end of tornado alley and
looking at tree roots sticking in the air is not unusual.
Storms along a coast can be something to behold...went through a category one hurricane in the Carolinas a couple of years back and that was rather nerve-wracking.

I liked your story and the rhythm of the piece...custom made for a performance evening at the local pub.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Ted. Thankfully we don't have to put up with hurricanes very often, but last weekend was scary and there is another storm on its way for this weekend. All good wishes.

Chris

[Ted Kniffen]

Batten down the hatches and keep the animals inside.

[Chris Shaw]

Wise advice. Have a good weekend Ted.

[Wild Rose]

He pounded my ears so
Then I awoke to silence
Had I gone deaf?
Dark was within the room?
Tis early yet.
First workers have not yet risen

I lay there still lest I wake my sleeping love
Till the alarm woke up
Music, talking,
What did he say
High roads closed
Nay you don't want the low road
That is the spirit road
The road of the dead
As any good Scot will tell 'ye'

Ah I can hear the radio
I'm not deaf
Nor dead
I' alive and well

But!
Is it raining?

[Chris Shaw]

Waking up to the storm. It was a callous one wasn't it? Pleased to read your thoughts Wild Rose. Thank you for your visit.

Chris

[Wild Rose]

Yes it didn't stop with the winds and rain for some

Shap (The highest point on the M6 7 I think on any UK motor way ) Had a flood then the water mains burst (streets flooded & no drinking water - followed by being cut off by snow the men to fix the water mains have had problems getting through > Crews had to be brought from all over the UK - the water main cut off water to half of the county

[Chris Shaw]

Wow, sorry to hear that. Causes so many problems for some and now we have storm Dennis on its way this weekend.

[Wild Rose]

We are forty to fifty miles from Shap and 125 m (300 t 400 ft) above sea level
So no flooding problems for us It was just the wind - you could hardly stand in it and the NOISE over the chimney > Oh and the digital TV went off - luckily our new tv has both tuners - digital now comes from Manchester so no local news there
The analogue signal gives local
Fill the flasks again just in case _ gas bottles remain in readiness

[LazerRays]

I feel there was more to this than what meats the eye. There was a lot of turmoil on it, and the title suits this quite nicely. I especially like your description when you write "he'll be downing them with laughter" Because he doesnt have a heart! great sadism displayed there. Its been a while since Ive been on your profile, so dropping by with a hello and hope everything is going well!

[Chris Shaw]

Many thank yous Sarah for your visit. Good to see you on my page

Chris

[LazerRays]

As always, it’s a pleasure to read your works

[Sami Khalil]

Powerful and accurate descriptions in great poetic form the strength and show of storms with all its might and fury. We do question the motives, we do lament the aftermath. I guess peace and violence have to exist intermittently in nature. I guess brute force force has to be exerted with gentle ones intermittently. Not sure but it looks like.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Sami, for another detailed and much appreciated response. We have another storm on its way this weekend. Batten down the hatches, yet again.
All the best.

Chris

[Sami Khalil]

You all be safe. You are welcome....

[Sami Khalil]

"you anticipate the danger
from this callous, mindless stranger,
while you question all his motives
with a suggestion he departs."

[Sami Khalil]

"there is wailing, there is creaking
as what's left of winter's weeping
is swept far with bristle brushes
across a moaning, groaning sky."

[Patricia Wedel]

dearest Chris... we live in the tops of very tall Fir trees. When the wind blows fiercely... it is scary but beautiful to survive. She is no Lady when she speaks and carries on. When we are not sleeping upstairs among the Stars, we live downstairs where the Sun shines in windows and we watch the Birds on the Deck eat Seeds from our large Kitchen Window. Nature has many orchestrated moments. truly, Pat

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Pat. Those winds can certainly be scary. Sometimes living in a beautiful place surrounded by trees, can have its downside when inclement weather arrives, but oh the beauty on fine days. All good wishes Pat.

Chris

[Einstein Noodle]

:))))))))))))))))))) oh yes .. he is a mindless, reckless danger for sure ... i love it when he twists the brittle from the branches .. and sways the tallest oak and pine ... they dance to his tune don't they ;) i don't however appreciate when me neighbor start a blowin ... hot breath over parched pavements :)))))))))))))
i grew up in upstate NY and most of my adult life in SD .. i am no stranger to the winds .. well told .. delightful rhyming ..cadence changes in V 3 it seems .. from iamb to trochee ... did you do that on purpose? it does cause me to pay more attention .. like a way to create a pause ... we have our daffodils sprouting here in the Ozarks .. winter's cold heart can not find a grip here :)
E.
ps. title hooked me ... but i know so little about her in your story ... she observes and records ... perhaps lay weeping on the floor ... the blowhard out the ..... door ;}

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Mr E for your lovely review and the humour included. You can certainly bring a smile. The change of cadence, was it deliberate? I'd like to say so Mr E but that would be telling a porkie pie. When I wrote this is rattled out with little attention to iambs or trochees :)) How lovely that your daffs are dancing already. Ours are just peeping through. Something to look forward to.

Chris

[Einstein Noodle]

indeed it is .. every year tipping their heads this way and that :)

[Chris Shaw]

:))............