No Lie

Outside tonight the autumn nor’easter
     is having its way, a wandering locomotive.      
Hard then soft rain, building up in slapping branches,
  windows shake, green pine cones thump to porch
limbs crack and break, hurled to the ground
 as the wind whispers and moans
     like a saxophone through trees.

Morning’s eyerub, from kitchen window
hot coffee, oatmeal stirred.
The party is over- a great housekeeping
       change has taken place.
multi colored leaves pile high
   against porch railings below,
       heaps of crumpled gift paper.
So the present is this, here?

But I also need a storm,
  reach through tumult and deep silence
      leaving all behind...
to meet at the quick, surrender.
  For this, the heart must be very alone sometimes
         and brave.

                                       R. Springer