The Vent

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.