~ tornado watch ~

thunder claps
endless
rolling over one another
like waves crashing the beach
at midnight
crawling feet over head
scrambling
me first
for their place at the teat

limbs crash against shingles
lightning awakens dawn
before its rightful time
creatures scurry
for the safety
of attic holes
tiny footsteps
announce their presence
with surprising
intensity

abandoning watchfulness
and safety
of underground
huddled under covers
listening
to visitors overhead
to scratching at the window
to whistling winds
to silence
of friends
asleep
throughout

grasping
for what remains
of slumber

photo by drstarbuck