Photo by Liv Bruce on Unsplash
I stand on the porch
as the storm rolls in
A rumble of thunder
sends the kids running inside
or to me
I no longer fear the storms
as I once did
midwest storms meant trouble
might be close behind
tornado was a term to be feared
mother assured me
we were safe in the valley
according to a legend
I believed her
In the midst of my fear
I read books to my brother
calming him
calming me
I did not understand
how someone could
dance in the rain
sing its praise
I love a rainy night
I did not love the rainy nights
but kenny loggins and
my favorite family
made me believe I could
No storm was ever as bad as I feared
lights out
no power
sometimes it was fun
The day the flood came was not fun
water poured into the basement
the pump stopped when the power was cut
three feet of water
turned our basement into a lake
our possessions floating
like boats
We never fully recovered
from the flood
It rained today
I stood in the kitchen
and watched as the dirt drank
the downpour
Let it rain,
my soul breathed.
The garden needs the water
I welcomed the storm
I once feared
