our tornado

Our Tornado

I sit eyes glued to the candle
While clouds dive close to rooftops
And rain whips branches across the road
And the dogs howl from their pens
Wanting away from weather
That has touched down within our town.

The dim lights flicker and TV whirs,
But does not come back on.
Neighbors call to report that their lawn chairs
Flipped over the car onto the flooded roads, while
My parents claim to be all right,
Trying to drive home through barricades,
As I sit with the howling and flickering of our tornado.

1998