Hurricane Bones
I woke to the sound of rain
hard upon the roof
gutters gushing streams of pain
mourning doves aloof.
Brittle bones begin to ache
as outer bands lope
ominous clouds roll and break
overshadowed hope.
The cat snuggles up to warm
soft gray, purring deep
seeking comfort from the storm
drifting back to sleep.
Astral spirits have been spurned
blue skies turn to black
too late, for the tide has turned
there’s no going back.
Cold winds thrash with great despair
ravishing the land
flesh, bone, there is nothing there
dust mingles with sand.
The rain falls like tumbling stones
melding sky and sea
sorrow carried in my bones
for eternity.
Colleen Keller Breuning © 2022
November 11, 2022
I must be getting old, or else that hour long Martial Arts workout last night kicked my butt, haha. Today I truly did awake to the sound of rain (one of my favorite Sylvia Plath lines)… and pain! I had slept 8 hours, but literally felt like someone pummeled me. Neither Aleve nor Advil helped. I have been trying to fend off a sinus infection ever since our return from Florida last week. I did finally to go my PCP and was prescribed antibiotics since I just had pneumonia/bronchitis/sinus in July. Today, the combination of the sinus infection, the remnants of Hurricane Nicole passing through and two long work weeks have left me feeling whipped.
The topic “hurricane” is one close to my heart, having lived 24 years in South Florida and riding out many – starting from Hurricane Andrew in 1991 through Hurricane Wilma in 2006, which left us powerless for 2 weeks. It was one of the top reasons we left and moved to Virginia. My kids still both reside in Florida, so anytime there’s one churning in the Atlantic or the Gulf, we’re relentlessly watching the “cone” and following the hurricane’s track. It is so exhausting going through a hurricane, from the preparation through the aftermath. It can be absolutely frightening and heartbreaking.
Today we just stayed home, did a little non-taxing accounting work (pardon the pun), laundry and ate some homemade chili that I defrosted this week. It was delicious and so warming on a dreary day like today. Anyway, the topic and the Sylvia Plath poetry lines were my muse this week. Just a little rhyme scheme composition I played around with, to reflect a passing mood. I’ll feel better tomorrow, because there is work to be done around this house in preparation for the upcoming Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays! Best of all – Katie, Brenton, Posie and Hatcher will be coming for a visit beginning November 30. I cannot wait! Have a good weekend, everyone!
xoxo Colleen
Inspiration: “I’ll Take the Rain” by REM
Blogophilia Week 19.14 Hurricanes Hope
Hard Bonus: Include a line from a Sylvia Plath poem (“I woke to the sound of rain” and “Flesh, bone, there is nothing there”)
Easy Bonus: Include your favorite animal (dove, cat)
Colleen Keller Breuning 
Beautiful words for an ominous and emotional experience. You can truly tell that you have weathered an alphabet of Hurricanes. Hugs and Love my friend xo
You are right, literally from Andrew to Wilma! It is so exhausting. Love you too my dear friend! xoxo
I felt every word.
I was thinking of you, among my other family & friends who endured the recent hurricanes. Hugs my friend! xoxo
I hope your kids stay safe! Nice entry, my friend!
Thank you, my friend! My son was in the path of Hurricane Nicole, but he’s a bit inland and they fared well. When living in Florida, we always looked forward to November 30 – end of the hurricane season!
Good news, thanks!
For many years I have watched those storms roll over your planet from my perch on Mars. Hard to believe the immense destruction they bring, but you have expressed it well. KUDOS, Earthling!
Thank you, Marvin!! xoxo
You capture desperation, even as it holds you in check… an unstable stalemate.