Melting Snow

Extreme Weather

Monday, April 10, 2017

Extreme Weather

Oklahoma has its tornadoes,
California its Santa Ana winds,
and in Nevada we have Washoe Zephyrs
dry diurnal winds
scattering summer dust across the Great Basin.

Extreme weather equals extreme winds
trimming palm trees' beards
and carrying the litter of civilization
into curb gutters
that make up part of Las Vegas' flood control.

Extreme winds
that pick up men's hats,
women's wigs,
small children
and animals
to push them helter-skelter
across the city.

Extreme winds
drop palm tree fronds
and other tree limbs
on top of apartment buildings
and through windows
frightening sleeper awake
or into thinking a bomb
has just been dropped on their homes.