in the storm (of a lifetime)

^{The jungle crouched, humped in silence.
Then spoke the thunder}

~

in the end
there was
no rain

just
a brooding day

but
the storms
that have passed –
are passing –
so recently
ask something
of us

once
in a lifetime
events
are happening

three times
in a year

the tranquil
becomes tempest
and torrent

forces us
to hide
and
to cringe

to cling
to our meaning
with hope . . .

hope
that our hope
retains the meaning
we have so long
taken
for granted

the world
is changing
at a clip

are you
and I
changing
to keep up

I think
not

today’s placidity –
there is beautiful light
filling the garden –
is
an illusion

the next storm is
likely
already gathering
for its
once in a lifetime
moment

perhaps
that
is the change

the lifetime
to be considered
is not that
of man or woman
but
of storm

we
are once
in the lifetime
of a storm

~