Beach storm

By James Aitchison

I watch — captive —
as the storm rolls in
across the bay,
and the sea sucks
light from the sky.
The world ends at
the lashing rain,
nothing exists beyond 
the punctured waves,
the sand heaves beneath
every lightning strike,
and old palms surrender
their branches.  
And after the rage —
       the calm, 
deep and majestic,
and the world holds
its breath.

James Aitchison is an Australian poet and author whose work has appeared in the Australian Poetry Anthology, Quadrant, Aesthetica, Poetry for Mental Health, Adelaide Literary, and many others.