Until the Storm Blows Over

a downgraded hurricane

roars through ends the drought

with rain torrents of rain

with ribbons of warm cloud-filled air

with rolling squalls pushed and slapped

by an evacuating gale

the soggy newspaper left

uncollected on the porch

bleeds print

mushes up the facts

your dogs curl near

your chair in their dog beds

resolved to stay away from wet

unless you force them out

you keep one eye alert

for stealthy movements

while blustering through

unpleasant conversations

with relatives stuck

in your small house

you know hounds

understand why they believe

in a manner reminiscent

of certain type of human behavior

that they can hold what accumulates inside

until the storm blows over