Deadly Whirling Dervish

Tornado!

Black clouds; run for cover; there is no escape

Warning siren warns of disaster, but too late for you

Dark cauldron of spinning madness is on you 

before you know it; nowhere to run, and nowhere to hide,

The noise is unbearable; even if you survive, 

you’ll never feel safe again

The all-clear is sounded, and you crawl up into the light,

into an unrecognizable world of unimaginable destruction;

the sickly-dark clouds have seemingly disappeared,

leaving behind shafts of bright sunlight, that bathe

everything they touch in an unearthly light

Whereas before, sleepy houses on quiet streets 

filled your vision, now are mounds of kindling for 

as far as the eye can see; nothing is recognizable 

as your neighbors’ house; and yours?

Forget about it; And your pet you didn’t have 

time to round up?  Same!  You look around in a daze

at all that’s left of your life, and your eyes fill with tears,

everything except memories gone in that deadly whirling dervish