blown away

 
the sun lost his dominance
as thick clouds bullied him into shadow
turning afternoon to complete darkness  
no thunder...no lightning...no rain
only the gods breath in full fury
& things meant to stand tall & proud became horizontal  
abasing themselves in the face of it
fallen trees & sundered limbs covered the streets
those caught unaware
{among them...my daughter...}
forced to dodge flying debris
 
we had no warning
 
& with one loud boom...power gave out
my tiny basement with its crowding walls
suddenly opened
into a vast mouth of blackness
absolute
my camping lantern casting a scant glow
& when the gale faltered I went above ground to look around  
at the random patches of desolation  
a stunned silence where children had played
I stood there a moment...viewing the devastation  
before returning to my shadowy rooms
 
as I sat in my inky-dark room
no television...no radio...no digital world
it was then I felt it descend
a peace I've never before explored  
filling the solitude
awareness of the space I personally occupy
how very small I am in relation to this earth
yet I am an entire universe
as are you
capable of creation...reparation...beauty & pain
givers & takers & everything in between  
& I settled into a calm I may never know again
as the skies began to lighten but my basement did not
for the first time I knew
as long as I keep trying...
I am enough
 
I don't know how the storm affected others
but me...
I found a stillness
...within myself