Sunday 21 October 2018

Four o'clock in the morning


First it was a grumble then a huge crash
Four o'clock we woke up to the thunderstorm
Electrical charge of lightning in the sky
Now rattling the roof, resonating indoors
As the frightened dog hid under the bed
Then the waves of rain washed salty kisses
Now against windows then atop the tiles
Slowly the grumbles of thunder eased off
Pins and needles in my arm slowly ceased

As Maureen's grip lessened on my poor arm
And her shaking stopped as she calmed down
Still coiled close to me her nerviness eased
I had not picked her for a scaredy cat
Or should I say scaredy dog on the bed
Who had wedged himself as close as can be
As they both sank off to sleep without me
Such classic companions in time of need
I thought of what a sight the garden would be

Image found at https://pixabay.com/en/storm-thunder-lightning-dark-sky-2258182/

21 comments:

  1. Love the close.. wonderfully captured scene.

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  2. I love how you've captured the early morning storm with sound effects and imagery, Robin, especially:
    'Electrical charge of lightning in the sky
    Now rattling the roof, resonating indoors
    ...
    Then the waves of rain washed salty kisses
    Now against windows then atop the tiles'.
    The final line is typical of those early morning thoughts when you just want to go back to sleep!

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  3. The storms are very very frightening especially if you are caught outside.

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  4. Ha, we've been having thunderstorms here on and off for several hours – but I am not in bed yet. My little cat always goes and lies under the table during storms.

    Your poem is a lovely mixture of the descriptive and the narrative, creating mood.

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  5. Oh, I love these lines: "the waves of rain washed salty kisses/Now against windows then atop the tiles".

    Such a wonderful setting and the ensuing reflection. :-)
    -HA

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  6. This makes me smile. Different people/animals react to storms differently. This is very evident in your poem. I like the way you told this tale, and I think it makes the reader reflect - which is a good thing!

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  7. Love this especially; "Then the waves of rain washed salty kisses/Now against windows then atop the tiles."💞

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  8. A stormy 4:00 AM, I could feel the tension of the hour. I sometimes get up to watch storms, pull the curtains in wonderment. It's much easier to do inside (smiles)

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  9. I can almost see and hear that storm and can definitely see Maureen and the dog. Wonderful, Robin. I especially love the rain washing salty kisses.

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  10. A perfect capture. Dogs can be the biggest scaredy cats. mine goes under the bed for any kind of loud noise

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  11. I liked this poem immensely. The setting of the storm, the kisses - all of it. I love storms, the bigger and boomier the better.

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  12. You captured that lead in and sudden start of a thunderstorm and then closed with such a cozy and hopeful image. Here, they're generally preceded by whining and snuggling as the one dog hears the thunder and waits for everything to arrive. :)

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  13. Oh, That is our dog for sure. Love the poem.

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  14. This is a lovely glimpse into a stormy night Robin. Yes, dogs can be quite the scardy cat, especially when it comes to thunder. Lovely writing as always!

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  15. It's nice to have a brave one present during a thunderstorm. I like your observations of Maureen and the dog. This poem paints such a sweet picture of a sweet little family.

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  16. You sketched this 4 a.m. scene wonderfully here, Robin - and injected it with a great sense of 'mood' that serves to play up that (somewhat indefinable) connection between owner and dog. An awesome read - perhaps especially, for a dog lover, such as myself.

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  17. I can't stop grinning at this. What a picture, indeed...

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  18. what a vivid description! and that connection between man and dog.
    over here, this is also the period for these 4 a.m. thunderstorms. bound to wake up because if the windows are opened, the storm will be blowing inside. :)

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  19. A very good close, Robin! There is a concern for the dog when the thunderstorm persisted in the wee hours of morning.

    Hank

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  20. I love rain-washed salty kisses, Robin. I have one dog who is a major-terrified-scared-of-all-sounds, and a dachshund who looks around and goes back to sleep.

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