CALM BEFORE THE STORM

There on the horizon, behind the curtain,

Lies thunder and lightning, of this I’m certain,

I watch the distance, I watch it dancing,

Delirious fury in lit-skies prancing.

 

I see the clouds change blue to red,

I see the sky roiling overhead,

I feel the air take on heavy weight,

I feel the gusts accelerate.

 

I know the feeling as it hits my face,

I’ve been here before; I’ve missed this place,

This dance with madness, this hunger race,

Don’t miss a step, don’t fall, keep pace.

 

But that’s all when we start the dance,

For now, I watch and await its grasp,

Restrained and calm, just day by day,

Put in the work before we play.

 

I feel the adrenaline begin to rise,

The fire burning in my eyes,

The latent energy course through my fingers,

I know not long will calmness linger.

 

For I have one last race to run,

Against the winds, against the sun,

Against every voice inside my head

That reminds me of this road I’ve tread.

 

But now is not the time to answer that call;

And rather, remember, will trumps all.

Lighting or thunder or roiling skies,

Nothing will extinguish these fiery eyes.

 

And so I wait with peaceful form,

Enjoy this calm before the storm,

For when the cue is finally given,

This peace transforms to demons driven.

 

And marches headfirst into lighting,

The thunder, clouds, all things exciting,

You’ve missed the storm’s violent embrace,

Just a bit more time now for you to wait.

 

Enjoy your peace, your family, and

Enjoy your comfort, enjoy your friends.

For when you set foot into that storm,

Hell hath arrived, world be warned.

 

-David A. Johnston

10-22-15