Before The Storm

before the storm
the church bells toll
no time left to run
from clouds black as coal

before the storm
the air which is silent
the ocean which is calm
will both turn violent

animals await their fate
sensing what's ahead
rain sprays down upon them all
in nature fear begins to spread

children sob in terror
as lightning cracks the sky
the radio says a storm is coming
the family goes to duck and hide

soft warm breeze turns howling wind
the leaves do fly the trees do bend
ocean surf is pounding the beach
docking pillars crack and creek

before the storm
anticipation of a worst scenario
all the lights in the house grow dark
the power goes out on the stereo

before the mayhem
everybody says a prayer
theyve seen what these storms can do
the notion has them scared