These Are My JOTtings, Part #2

Listing the Sounds

The wind now blows in from the north,
moaning, groaning, sweeping the cold.
The heat made very little sound,
but now the owl's hoot-cry so bold.

Growling, lowering wind doth charge.
Cars swooshing, hummimg beyond the trees.
Leaves crinkle on the cold, cold slab,
huffing winter wind, that frees.

Speeding wheels of constant drone,
swinging limbs fan windy sighs,
silence ringing in the ears,
now broken by some truck wheels cries.

Sound machines oft rock to sleep
the tired home-owners with roaring wind,
but something new caught just as good,
the tires on road to sleep could send.

Space blanket on the aloe scrapes
as roiling wind builds up its force.
The motorcycle rumbles on
in canter as a metal horse.

Crumpled chatter covers bold
the aloe vera from the cold.
Tentative menace of the wind,
we sense the freezing it would send.

Waiting, waiting, silence builds.
The unheard ribbons of creeping wind
as manmade sounds almost windlike
explore the coming, cold winter night.

by Jay O’Toole
on January 11th, 2026