“to catch a storm”
The current selection visualizes my original poem “to catch a storm” inspired by the storms in Miami during hurricane season. I wrote the poem on a Sunday when I was home all day. It was one of those hot, humid, rainy days. The only thing to do was to stay home, have a cup of coffee, read a book, and watch the storms pass by with all their fury and glory. In the afternoon, the wind gusts were strong, and all sorts of objects were flying around—from umbrellas and pillows to palm leaves and ashtrays. Of all things, a poncho made its way to my balcony. It was wet and beaten up. It got trapped on my balcony, and the wind kept dragging it from one side to the other. In the end, it got tangled in the railing. As I looked at it, I thought, “someone fought and lost.”
The story was a platinum winner at the 2024 EPA and it was featured by Muse.World.
to catch a storm
Weather advisory: Severe thunderstorms – stay indoors.
To be free,
I thought I had to find that storm.
I strapped a box to my back —
just whatever I had lying around.
I set out.
On the way, I stole a passing cloud.
It didn’t take long to notice.
It panicked.
It started to scream.
The storm heard it.
Told the wind what I had done.
The wind found me.
I was ready —
to stand, to endure, to win.
I fought.
And I lost.
And that’s when I realized:
to be free,
I had to surrender to the wind.
Weather update: All clear – Storm shifting west.