Skeptical but compliant,
we moved to the basement as directed
after the sirens sounded
and cell phones displayed the warning
that the current thunderstorm
included conditions favorable to
the development of a tornado
in close proximity to our location
and that Doppler Radar indicated
rotational movement about five miles away.

Strong winds and heavy rain
moved on through the area
and we went back to work,
joining the few who had looked at the sky
instead of their screens
and figured they knew
this was nothing to worry about
when your office is on the ground floor
of a three story building
and kept on working right through the whole deal.

Two hours later,
under pristine skies,
the temperature and humidity
were both twenty points lower
and we enjoyed the beautiful evening,
sitting on the deck and eating fresh watermelon
from the vine that sprang up from last year’s compost pile.
At the same time,
other neighbors not too far away
had to deal with broken branches
and uprooted trees
and destroyed property.

Sometimes it seems
that it is not possible
to move from the heavy heat of oppression
to the clear relief of gentle refreshing
without some sort of storm in between.

Still, I believe
that a tornado is a bit excessive
and prefer other means
of improving one’s situation.

H. Arnett
8/1/18