A stampede kicks up
funneled by corkscrew clouds
a curse of cumulus
The Thunder Master throws streaks across the plains
ripping through pastures like gunpowder shattering
Great growl in the west
seems to reach the ends of the earth
A wind, full-blown and fierce
slings torment
creating a catastrophe of trees
and this hollow earth shakes
Mythic cowboys hitch their team
in the clouds
as the hot air collides with the cold
The drumbeats of hail pound out battle cries
blasting fruits from skinny barks of trees
the bleached bones of the dead
shine through this blinding storm
The asphalt faces of angry cowboys menace the night
while the plain hide here
deep in the crater of destruction
storm-blown
howling their unrequited dreams
The renegade henchman strong in their stirrups
lassoing thunder turning toward the virgin sky
in a flash finish
Left behind, the hidden
brave barbed wire and
crawl out in new skin
ever skittish of stampeding storms
Reblogged this on John Cowgill's Literature Site.
Love these lines: “A wind, full-blown and fierce / slings torment / creating a catastrophe of trees” and “The renegade henchman strong in their stirrups / lassoing thunder turning toward the virgin sky / in a flash finish.” We’ve had rain today, but a gentle summer rain, not a rip-roaring thunderstorm like this, with those “great growls” that reverberate inside your chest. Stay safe, Lana. We don’t want you to end up in Kansas with Auntie Em. 🙂
Thank you, Joan. This is more of a spring thunder storm for these parts. We have had some wet fall weather though, I thought I might have to begin building an ark yesterday 😀
Wow! Well done.
Thanks, Jennie! I did this for submission to Rattle poetry, which they promptly rejected. I guess I have as much a chance with them as I do lassoing a star and riding along with these renegade cowboys! 😀
Such is often the life of a writer, good ones included! If most readers like it, then that says it all.
The song “Ghost Riders in the Sky” kept running through my head as I read this. Well done – I also imagined a Blue Norther coming in.
You know, Jo, I forgot my corresponding song, that would have been a good one! We know a thing or two about Blue Northers here, and we are smack dab in the middle of tornado alley. Thank you so much!
Such vivid description… I can see this landscape! Great poem, Lana.
Thank you, Iris. These renegade cowboys need to take shelter in one of your beautiful, lush landscapes and “chill out” as my son would say 😀
😃 Have a pleasant week ahead! ⚘
Thanks, Iris!
Such vibrant description, Lana! I can hear the thunder and taste the electricity just reading this piece! Must be quite a sight! This year has been very dry around here and every rain is greeted with hurrah! But no storms please. 😉
I live in such a crazy part of the world, Sarah. It will have an extended drought (the last one lasted five years and our water supply almost completely dried up!) Now we have been having heavy rain, and I’ve been contemplating building an ark, LOL. 😀
If you do build that ark you could come and visit. 😉
I surely would! We could have so much fun, I have no doubt! xoxo
Let me know when you’ll arrive. 😉 xoxo