And Then I Will Look at Stars

Today the sky is blanketed with thick clouds
Only dim light from a weakened sun can penetrate
The shroud that hugs the world
This afternoon, they say, the storms will come
Fierce wind,
Stinging rain,
Even hailstones possible
When the skies turn violent, turbulent, angry.

I wait inside, and light a fire.
I shutter my windows for
No sun will pierce the glass to
Warm my skin today.

I will pass the storm tucked away,
By a burning fire,
Wrapped in a warm quilt,
With a mug of hot, spiced tea
Laced with a bit of whiskey.
I will wait here, for the storm to pass,
And shudder when lightning hits the panes
Beyond my shutters and
Thunder shakes the world around me.

But the storm, like all storms, will pass.
It will move on, blown on by its winds,
To a new place,
Terrorizing others, who will shutter their windows
And huddle by their fires.

When the storm travels on, it will leave
Destruction behind, broken limbs, scattered leaves, wet pools.
But it will also clean the air, wash the dusty sidewalks and
Make the moon seem brighter.

And then, only then, will I open the shutters on my windows,
And unlock my door, and
Walk through it to explore the world outside.
And then, only then, and with my eyes able to see the world
More clearly, I will turn my face to the sky,
And then I will look at stars.