AFTER THE STORM

A dazzling blue sky day.

The redwoods are

so happy

to be clean again

they are singing

as they dance

in the wind.

The swiftly flowing

muddy winding river

easily carries her load

of broken branches

untethered boats, docks

and other debris

down to the sea.

Along the river bank,

the hungry winter birds

are chasing down

the almost invisible swarms

of darting insects.

(How do such tiny creatures

survive a downpour

like we had last night

I wonder

as I watch.)

And all of us humans

who live so near the edge

of river and sea

are ever so grateful

that this year is not

like last year.

This year

after the storm

our homes are still

here.

Lilith Rogers December27th, 2006