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Joyce Johnson
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since 2001-03-10
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Washington State

0 posted 2009-04-02 03:13 PM


The acrid, metallic taste of the air,
Full of electricity, stirring my hair,
Was a sure first sign of thunderstorm brewing,
Urging me haste in what I was doing.

The day which had been so arid and bright,
Was darkening now, as if early night,
And cooling so fast, I felt quite a chill,
Out here on the prairie with never a hill.

I must swiftly seek for some sort of cover,
If struck by the lightning, my life would be over.
The clap of the thunder was louder and nearer,
Zig zag of the lightning, filled me with great fear.

A child of the prairie, aware of the danger,
To these sudden storms, I was hardly a stranger,
Knowing that lightning sought the tallest thing round
To carry her energy into the ground.

I fell and curled up to make myself small
Just as the huge raindrops started to fall.
Pungent earth smells arose as I wallowed in it,
I was soaked to the skin, in merely a minute.

Then as fast as it came the storm had blown over.
I'd survived on the prairie, without any cover.

© Copyright 2009 Joyce I Johnson - All Rights Reserved
Margherita
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since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236
Eternity
1 posted 2009-04-02 06:02 PM


Wow, dear Joyce, this made me quicken my breath for the electric charge threatening.
This is so very vivid, I almost saw the lighning and felt the raindrops.

Great write.

Love,
Margherita

serenity blaze
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since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738

2 posted 2009-04-02 07:07 PM


And engage the senses, you did!

An admirable piece of work, dear Joyce.

A great metaphor and quite visual as well.

Btw? You also made me realize that it is quite possible to smell electricity.

Brava!

Joyce Johnson
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Washington State
3 posted 2009-04-02 09:28 PM


Thank you Margherita and Serenity Blaze for your kind words.  It has been a long time since I lived in North Dakota but I still remember the sudden storms.  Love, Joyce
Verbena
Member
since 2005-10-17
Posts 196
Australia
4 posted 2009-04-12 10:44 AM


Dear Joyce

I've got goosebumps just reading this poem of yours about "Elements and Senses"!  I'm not fond of storms and just hearing distant thunder makes me quiver!

Well, I must say that this is an 'electrifying poem' of yours; that's for sure!

Love Verbena xo


Trillium
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Member Patricius
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Idaho, USA
5 posted 2009-04-17 01:53 PM


Dear Joyce:

Great poem!  I remember stories of storms my mother told me about, when she was growing up on the Montana prairie. Fightening for anyone going through that.

Love
Betty Lou

Betty Lou Hebert

Joyce Johnson
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Washington State
6 posted 2009-04-17 09:20 PM


Thanks Verbena and Betty.  Its been a long time but I wll never forget the fear of a lightning storm.  Our homes allhad lightning rods on them when I was young. Love, Joyce
Rex Allen McCoy
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since 2000-01-30
Posts 2863
Sippin a Timmy's in London
7 posted 2009-04-27 07:20 PM


A wind storm with lightning and thunder struck just north of us yesterday, leveling a few farm buildings and felling several trees ... mother nature strikes so sudden
~
enjoyed your poem

Joyce Johnson
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Washington State
8 posted 2009-04-29 01:42 AM


Thank you Rex Allen.  Joyce
Alison
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9 posted 2009-05-05 02:46 AM


Dear Joyce,

I really enjoyed this.  We have those quick thunder/lightening storms in the summer, but we have lots of trees to deflect the lightening too.  

Wonderful writing.

Alison

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