After the Storm
The earth’s at peace tonight, but I am not.
The iron grasp of heat was blown away
Upon the storm and wind, upon the spray
Of sudden rain that fell as two skies fought.
The storm was strong, and yet it brought
A blessed cool, a sweeter air, and gray
Where all was scorched to brown just yesterday.
And now all’s still, I count stars dot by dot.
So many stars are in the sky tonight–
So many stars I cannot even name–
It is no time to yield, give up the fight,
Forget the battles won, or take the blame
For losses not my own. See there, alight,
Where storms have passed and set the stars aflame.
Christine,
Visiting a series of elderly family so no real time to continue reading your lovely book of poetry, The Hillside Diaries (Available, BTW, on Amazon) but I will in about one week.
But, this sonnet, while being "just a sonnet" seems bigger than fourteen lines. That often happens with your stuff- I finish it and then look back and realize how short in actual length it was. First ten lines, pure lovely, especially "all was scorched to brown just yesterday".
In the last four I get lost. I pick up the trail after "See there, alight..." but before that. Would you be willing to shed some light?
It is no time to yield, give up the fight,
Forget the battles won, or take the blame
For losses not my own. See there, alight,
Where storms have passed and set the stars aflame.