Tornadoes

I dreamed of tornadoes last night
twirling monsters dragging a finger of guilt across solid ground
the hill country of my childhood.

I found myself running from the rage of myself
an ugly and barbaric cloud filled with electric violence
dipping down from an overwhelmed atmosphere
pent-up, frustrated, and self-destructing
all the parts of being human we tend to hide
and hide FROM
chapters in our life stories we know well enough to skip over in the retelling
after the tornado has come through and we have sifted the pieces
looking for something whole to claim

I dreamed of tornadoes last night
funnels the color of my secrets
dancing furiously around me like ghosts
laughter thundering from all directions
trees ripped from the ground in a cackle and a snap
stability shredded by a finger placed on the map of me
destroying the integrity of my identity over and over again

I dreamed of tornadoes last night
I reached across the contour of the bed and found my lover's warm body
my hand traced the curve of her hip
and came to rest on her knee
she backed into me aware of my presence

I dreamed of tornadoes last night.

April 11, 2008

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