stormday

 first day of October
And the island is enduring Storm Force 10 as a wake-up call to the darkest of season...
Whereas September dazzled hearts with rainbows, October began in blueness.
But then, as wind awakes...

The following piece, written just over a year ago, describes this moment of earthly madness - as felt inside my very own nordic home! ...As well as published by Pushing Out The Boat earlier on this year.
 

Stormday

What do we do when the wind wakes?

Some take to bottle in despair, as if to gulp an illusion –
others tuck in deep in their yarns,
light wax towers,
hail to Mary,
holy gale,
gust,
hissing disguise
of earth disgust through wildest skies,
as heavens send their cavalry;

some wonder what it’s all about.

Floorboards tremble under our feet,
everything shakes all around us like a spinning washing machine –
birds fly like crabs in wild airflows,
won’t hang our shirts till next Wednesday….
Sunset looks like pale flamingos.

Others switch on marine forecasts.

I still remember fishermen who moor wisdom tight on bollards;
pride iced inside a blue fishbox, their living anchored to tight rope,
as water hits without hatred, jealousy, discrimination.

Will drown my fears in cullen skink,
    most of us grasp tongue of the storm.

© Nat Hall 2009