NORTHEAST STORM

Pristine water, crystal-pure, is synbol1c
Of life and peace, with alabaster snow
And glistening ice. But today the northeast storm
Roars at our coast with surges diabolic.

The limpid blue is gone. The seabed scoured
Of qravelly sand and kelp and pots’ detritus,
Boils up a Neptune’s spasm of foul gastritis,
A grayish, greenish, oily foam-scum powered

Ragingly to crush the stubborn beach
With coiling billows, curling combers, snarling
Surfs to strafe the shore and level the prayerless
Dunes, breakers breaking, rollers breeching

The shingle, tormenting, despoiling the littoral--
All blessed by the comprehending seasaw gulls.

(72, December 14, 1992)

Comments

We know these as Nor’easters

When the Gulf Stream fails, as it must after the continents move and consolidate and break apart again, there will be storms but none like these. Always in the winter, often with mixed snow/ice/rain and wind that howls like a banshee!

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