THE VENT
The wind slips through the trees;
murmurs, murmurs, gentle murmurs.
The wind slides around the branches;
whistles, whistles, breathy whistles.
The wind shakes the leaves and twigs;
crackles, crackles, crisp crackles.
The sun shines.
The wind sends clouds across the sky;
shadows, shadows, changing shadows.
Dusk falls.
The wind stirs dust and earthen roads;
gusts, gusts and stronger gusts.
The wind slams door and rattles windows;
whirls, whirls, roaring whirls.
The wind sways plants, grasses, flowers;
pulses, pulses, strengthening pulses.
Darkness comes.
Then, the wind pauses and inhales;
waits, waits, an air-less wait.
The vent opens.
The wind joins
thunder and lightning across the sky.
The storm begins.