Gray stillness enveloped the sky
Everything calmed; halted
Even the wind stopped breathing
Playing in the backyard with clothespins
Clipped them to the end of my fingers
Wondered what they’d feel like on the tip of my tongue
So I did.
It hurt.
That was the first time I heard a tornado siren
Screeching
Wailing
Warning
Mom flung upon the screen door
Yelling at me to get inside!
Frozen
Standing
Crying
Paralyzed with indecision
With a clothespin pinching my tongue.
I love the way the lyrics led you to this memory. Plus of course the title – the entire thing just works so well. Brava!
I could see the sky, and feel that child’s moment of fear. The juxtaposition of the weather and the clothespin on the tongue works so well. I loved this.