Tornado Warning
that thunder last night.
that ceaseless lightening.
3 am and the pup and I
jolted, held each other
scared. I was scared.
fears of my youth rising
like steam under my skin.
that grating phone alarm:
Warning! Take cover!
and the opening scene
from Twister blows
across my mind, a father
sucked into the stomach
of the spinning beast.
I remember being hauled
by frazzled teachers
down marble halls at
st. angela elementary
school: Warning! Take cover!
hundreds of kids in jagged
moving lines, scurrying ants
into the library. the deepest
part of the building. the
shag orange carpet. my
body flickering in fear.
VANESSA SHIELDS 