Storms

By Catherine E. Berry

There is a stillness in the air tonight,
Strange quiet, after Nature’s fury dies.
An hour ago the clouds were shot with light,
And thunder echoed from the heavy skies.
Rain lashed the trees, swept petals from the flowers,
And ran in gushing rivulets down the hill,
Hard drive by some great and unseen powers;
Then suddenly – the night was calm and still.

There is a stillness in my heart tonight,
Strange quiet now that you have come and gone,
And stars that glitter now with lovely light,
Will blink and fade, and all too soon the dawn
Will break in splendor – but this will remain …
The wreck of storms, the memory of pain.

(1940)