Unforeseen (Etheree)

Skies

laden

with moisture

burst open--first

hail, then rain, heavy

enough to flatten plants

and small shrubs. Water rushes

along the road flooding storm drains.

Warnings flash across the T.V. screen:

"Tornado approaching. Take shelter NOW!”

Huddled in our basement, we watch the screen--

see clouds gather, spinning, on the move.

Quickly, vortex crosses river,

swallowing up debris, trees;

ripping roofs off buildings;

tearing up Main Street.

Eastbound, it hits

nineteen towns--

we are

spared.

©  Copyright Ginny Brannan June 2011

 On June 1st, 2011 a very rare and almost unheard of phenomenon occurred here in Western Massachusetts. A category F3 tornado touched down,  and tracked 3-1/2 miles south of where we live on it's 46 mile path across the state. 
*The tornado forms." Photo taken by author of TV screen from live broadcast local news. 

Etheree

The poetry form, Etheree, consists of 10 lines of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 syllables.  Etheree can also be reversed and written 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.  This is a Double Etheree with more than one verse,  where the second verse is an inverted syllable count. Free verse style, unmetered.
Posted: BlueBell Books Short Story Slam