Drunk on unruly surge of words
my poem tussles to emerge from flood
as rivers burst their banks in rage
Driving rain before snell wind
penetrates the stoutest garments,
awakens aches with irritation
sours tempers, darkens mood.
Harsh taskmaster branches bends,
whips unshielded skin to redness
tangles hair and un-grazed grasses
lashes sea-foam into fury.
Machine gun paradiddle ─
steel rain intensifies.
Thick stone walls stand firm
to counter beating bluster.
*snell: biting cold
Vivinfrance's Blog 
Ooo, a new word!
I read the first line and stopped to look up ‘snell’. It fit perfectly. Imagine my surprise, then, to find a completely different meaning at the end.
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/snell :
Adjective[edit]
snell (comparative sneller, superlative snellest)
(chiefly Scottish)
Active, brisk or nimble; lively.
He is a remarkably snell young lad.
Quick, sudden; sharp.
That horny-handed, snell, peremptory little man. –Dr. J. Brown.
Quick-witted; witty.
Harsh; severe.
I can see a tenuous link with ‘biting cold’, but really, the meanings are quite different, yet both work.
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I felt like I was in that storm! Great imagery in this, Viv.
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the weather here (in California) is bringing much wanted rains, certainly, but the snell winds not welcome.. enjoyed the imagery here
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Wonderfully descriptive…could feel the storm and yours as well,
Elizabeth
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It seems that weather is acting up all over the globe–thank you, El Nino–here in California and in Nevada, we are wanting the water. But not all at once. You express your dismay in this poem with so much eloquence.
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Wonderful description. I could feel it.
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Excellent poem, I feel as though I am there. I do hope you are staying warm and dry.
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Yes thanks. The rain stopped, the sun came out and Voila! If you don’t like the weather here you just wait ten minutes!
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I am imagining that if I read your poem out loud, I would love how it rolled across my tongue. Very descriptive, with intense words. Great writing indeed!
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Thanks. Poetry is written to be read aloud!
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Sounds nasty! Stay indoors and cosy up by the fire.
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Head for the hills & hunker down up there if you can, V. Great writing.
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Lovely, very vivid and evocative. Rain here sounds as if someone has emptied a bucket of nails onto the metal roof from a great height. The sound drowns everything out, and makes conversation impossible. But generally, we don’t contend with cold too. I have a favourite word to describe cold, grey, miserable weather: dreich. Jock will recognise it!
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We went to a wedding once in a church with a tin roof. The monsoon arrived and we heard not a word. Time came to drive across the island for the reception, and the water was up to our axles, all the way.
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That’s got that out of your system! 🙂 But not out of the weather system, unfortunately. Washington State’s turn and bush fires Down Under 😦
Some fabulous images here, Viv! Love your steel rain and that taskmaster lashing the sea foam 🙂 Keep warm and have a happy weekend!
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