Keeping Monsters at Bay

Earth reeled and rocked
exploding with emotion

and he left his bed
to check the temperature of the night
its crashing sounds
whispering limbs
and startled sky ---

jugular ribbons of white streaks
a cacophony of crescendos.

In spite of storms where monsters
infiltrated thinking
his mind raced back to days
when good ole mom sprinkled away
childish fears with Holy Water
seeking fears embedded
in each bedroom hideaway.

And gaining purchase on the
many precipices of life
he attained success and good standing
in spite of such
storms confronting him
this moment.

He carefully closes the window
longing for the moments
when as a child he raised youthful
lips to the sky
trusting in the purity about to
descend and gulped hungrily at the
moisture received in the
innocence of his life.

Without further fanfare he stomped
across the cold floor and wrapped
himself in the warmth of his wife’s love.

© Richard L. Provencher