Poetry

Upon a Storm

by Grace E. Clifton

When the day grows dark and clouds roll in

With lightning that strikes the ground,

And shadows grow thick as the storms begin,

So that nowhere can light be found,

You spend hours waiting in a darkened room

With doors and windows locked -

Alone, and trapped in your despairing tomb

With no one to hear you talk.

Such howling winds fume above your head

With rain that screams at every side;

You huddle, shoulders shaking, upon the bed,

Stained in all the wet tears you've cried.

Then fear taps at the covered windowpane

And panic claws at the sealed door;

They beg for an innocent life to claim,

And to take what's left to live for.

A candle stands with a flicker of hope

And your eyes never break away -

Holding onto it for guidance to help cope

With the perpetual night of day.

The storm still rages - the candlelight fades –

Panic is now stepping through the door;

Fear is ready to pierce your heart like a blade

As the light is suddenly no more

With frantic desperation you raise your face

And (though no one is there to hear)

You call to the stars for a simple embrace

And protection from your fears.

Light suddenly breaks through the violent storm

And denounces its right to stay;

Fear and panic flees you, their power scorned,

And the darkness quickly goes away.

A knock at the door lifts you from the bed

And through the lighted room to respond;

A man stands on the other side, and says,

With gentle eyes so fond:

"I've been waiting here all this while,

But you never asked for my love or care.

I longed to come comfort you and make you smile

But you locked the door and hid in disrepair.

Do you not know that the storms can never last?

Do you not remember that the sun always shines?

It endures even while your faith may be overcast

Or fear has made you blind.

The light is always there, you must only believe;

All you are to do is look and make a sound.

You will find that there is never a reason to grieve,

But instead to rejoice, for you are found."

He then opens his arms to embrace me

And softly leads me from the room.

He takes me outside so that I can see

That the storm brought every flower into bloom.