After Her Storm

By Tarapi Pyo ’24

The slow regard of her storm silently snuck forward
The brewing wind carried words of toxins
shivery sounds shushing the people into compliance
The birds rolled their eyes and flapped their wings
The earth transformed into a great expanse
for her shooting stars to plunder
streaks of light accelerating for the people and their homes
 
Mother nature witnessed the rage and went back to Her cave
The young girl’s upset brows and gleaming eyes were ready
She was a lion with a bloody haze cast over her sight
Neither the fruiting trees nor the flying birds were safe
Flesh tore apart as punches splattered
red staining the woods, ichor oozing down the walls
maroon seeping into the tiles of the bedroom floors 
 
And the mass chanted:
Let her sail away in the Reaper’s boat, see the turbulent waters wrecking our trees
Let her fly her blackish wings away, see the soot feathers raining on our homes
Let death be upon this havoc, see the smoldering rocks burning our land 
The ashes replaced where the houses stood
the people cried: out, out, out
 
Till the second hailing