Tropical Depression

Waves crash on an empty beach. 
A sunhat, 
Catching in the brewing breeze, 
Held on by a hand. 
Shawl billowing. 

The sullen clouds have swollen now, 
And the thunder rolls. 
 
The ocean waters surge. 
She stays to watch the storm, 
Adding more to the downpour. 
She wants to be
A palm tree in the hurricane. 
 
Roots sprawl, 
Holding fast and deep.

It’s everything she wants to be:
Anchored in the sand. 
She needs to know how,
But lingering doubts 
Uproot her. 
 
She doesn’t know why.
It must be this way. 

Palm fronds sway in the wind. 
A storm forms in the gulf. 
As feelings swell, 
they overwhelm 
The palm tree in the hurricane. 
 
She wonders. 
Why here, 
where her happiness should be? 
Wind whips her hair. 
Oh, beach of irony. 

Frustrated shouts are drowned out 
By quick air.