Storm
by
Matt Zurbo
I wish I was a storm,
brewing, building,
behind the hills.
Grumbling,
growing,
high in the mountains,
giving air its chill.
Up there I’d pelt down
sleet,
cover the peeks with ice.
The snow owl would adore me,
as it hunted snow mice.
I wish I was a storm, expanding,
looming
over the land.
As, gradually,
then in hard bursts,
rain fell from my bands.
I wish I was a storm,
fearsome,
making the world go dark.
Sending kids from the playground,
causing lonely dogs to bark.
Farmers would look up,
as the sun began
to disappear.
“At last! At last!” they would cry
from dry throats,
with mighty cheer.
I wish I was a storm,
moving across a dusty, parched land,
making desert flowers bloom,
roads flood,
frogs sing,
filling every dam.
I wish I was a storm,
giving THUNDER, giving LIGHTENING.
BIG,
BOLD,
FULL OF AWE!
Everything exciting!
I wish I was a storm,
raising mighty oceans,
offering fishermen their challenge,
sea legends their motion.
I wish I was a storm,
making trees hiss with my wind,
so that the bush bent and
danced,
made a wonderful, roaring din!
I wish I was a storm,
finding my way to you,
as everybody ran
and hid,
as they’re prone to do.
But not you…
I wish I was a storm,
that you enjoyed being in.
Loving life,
my cold,
my wet,
my howling noise,
the way I rattle tin.
I wish I was a storm,
inspiring your imagination.
Of warriors,
thunder gods,
while you were waiting at the station.
I wish I was a storm,
in which you would dance.
Feeling wet,
free,
as kids should be.
Defiant to the last!
I wish I was a storm,
giving fires worth.
Making simple walls,
into castle doors,
providing shelter from my girth.
I wish I was a storm,
filling the land with
motion,
love,
life!
Leaving you,
as the sun broke through,
feeling rather nice.
End
365 kids books in 365 days 