pelting rain
you're soaking wet. No umbrella.
Cold water seeping through your chest.
You're not dressed for this
weather. Your hair looks like a rat,
flat and sticking to the wrinkles
on your face. You shiver to the bone
all the way home.

Just because it stopped
blowing 137 knots. You fought it
off. But the hurricane left a wreckage
of debris, downed houses, buildings
and trees. The neighbors
forced to flee.

Just because it stopped
them from calling you names
it didn't ***** out the flame. The rage
gutted you inside. They burned your
skin alive.