Psalm 29 Remembered In A Line Storm

Psalm 29 Remembered in a Line Storm, 1967

In Kansas on a summer night The wind blows strong on moon bright white. Far off horizon flashes faint, Then oftener with brilliant light. She sits on that old glider. Still. No one beside her, quite alone, The glider squeaks in questioning And yet she does not hear it moan Above the magnitude of night. Some long thin clouds now slice the moon, Grow larger and then cover it, But magnify its glow until The silver gray enlarging mass Envelopes the sky. Then quite soon The glow is gone and all is black. The lid is on the pit. She sits With nature’s murmers anxiously Anticipating, but must wait. “…Yea over the waves of the darkening tempest…”

Fast the lid cracks Bringing day to the night. Everything’s seen; All is revealed Just for a flash. With a merciful clash All is concealed In the black of the night. The rain starts to fall, Not slowly, but fast. The ground is a flood, No dampness or mud. The wind takes the slap And rises to arm. It carries the rain Away on its back. Becoming a team They drive on together. Wash this black world, Pound and punish it clean. “…God ruled at the flood – yea, forever His throne.” The thunderous applause Roll in and then on. Ovation now bursts In praise of the sky’s Spectacular play. A beautiful move, Performance sublime, Magnificent time, Each brought claps for oncore. “…In thunder the God of all glory draws nigh…”

She too watched the drama, Absorbed and involved. The glider complained At being disturbed But she did not hear, As rising took hold The porch pillar post. Rain flew in her face. Her hair clung in strings And lashed at her neck. It stung. The wind whipped Her clothes, pushed her back, But she stood still straight, Alone with the storm. So privileged to glimpse This mighty charade, She felt free, alive, Magnificence beyond reply. “…The voice of Jehovah in majesty speaks.” The storm now was spent. Its peak had been passed. Applause died away. The wind calmed to breeze. Rain fell straight and staid. Alone, with no one Beside her, she heard The glider squeak its Unbalanced refrain, Amid the symmetry Of ever falling rain. “Jehovah all strength to His people imparteth; Jehovah with peace ever blesseth His own.”

© K.E. Stegall 1967