Leave a window open

When clouds and thunder pulled curtains over the sun,

momma would read scriptures written in the sky.

She have us throw open the southwest windows,

because if the pressure could somehow equalize and

if the house had enough fresh air to recite prayers and

if the walls held no fear of dying,

the house would not implode during a tornado and

we would survive the gathering storm.

Old wive’s tales must be true,

because our house never imploded and

we survived our childhood storms.

Now we see the darkening clouds and

thunder writing scriptures in the sky and

we have an urge to open all the southwest windows,

let fresh air in so the house can breathe and

prayers may rise up and

the storm will pass over and

the house will not implode and

fragrances of pardon will waft and

we will be saved again.

4-19-26