Tornado, Moore, Oklahoma

Ten miles long, two miles wide—

It rests in my mind as a pillar of fire.

Ten miles long, two miles wide—

Is as long as from home to Mansura

And as wide as from home to Dupont.

EF5: winds over 200 miles an hour.

A war zone.

Splintered houses now matchsticks.

Whole lives twisted beyond recognition.

Streets rendered, crumbled into trash.

Pause.

Think of it.

Ten miles long, two miles wide—

--May 22, 2013