I peeked at the clock — it was six thirty-two,
the wind was at a simmer,
excited, I threw back the covers,
thinking of all the things I would do,
while the “window rattler” blew through.
I loved the catchy phrase as soon as I heard it,
Dave Curren, a weatherman on News 12, New Jersey the night before,
But, right now, all I wanted was for Mr. Coffee to brew,
up some sweet black gold.
Eight thirty-two after I had finished my second cup,
the windows still hadn’t made a peep,
I clicked on News 12 New Jersey,
caught the tail end of weatherman James Gregorio.
The satellite radar showed,
it had indeed blown through while I slept,
to my dismay,
pictures of damage it had done around the state,
I clicked it off and got on with my day.
Ten thirty-two,
sun shining bright,
blue sky, pretty clouds,
roads drying out,
trees swaying to winds,
between simmer and full boil,
perfect for flying a kite.
— Edith McGowan
Edith McGowan, a West Windsor resident, is a member of Delaware Valley Poets, New Jersey Poetry Society, Poetry Circle, Cover 2 Cover Book Club, Mystery Lover’s Book Club, and Twin Rivers Writer’s Group. She is in the process of writing her first murder mystery novel.

