Blown Away

BLOWN AWAY Pamela Blunt

45 Today was the wind’ s birthday. It took a deep breath, and it blew hard. It blew out all the lights. It blew out all the computers. It blew out all the cash registers, refrigerators, traffic lights, and ipods. It blew out city block after city block of commerce.

I hope it made a wish.

And me, I was running on empty. I thought I could just search a little farther for fuel. But like I said, I was running on empty, And the wind, It had blown out all the gas pumps too.

So the wind rocked us, Gusting across our steely transports As we were on our way, Thinking our busy, important thoughts And taking it all for granted.

It took just a few gusts of wind To bring us to our knees, Put us in our place, Show us just who was boss— Not us— Just how insignificant and fragile Our complicated world is To the wild currents that whirl around the earth.

Today it was only a few strong breaths from the lungs of the universe, A few minutes of pause Before things returned to business as usual.

Gratitude for what is And what so easily could come to a standstill With just the right marriage of wind or heat Or empty aquifers.

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