Tropical storm

Thunder crashes overhead

Raindrops pelt upon my head

Silver streaks of lightning flash

Thunderhead clouds together crash

Dark as hell the sky above

The Devil gives the world a shove

Steaming mangroves riverside

Roots like spider’s legs astride

Rain hits water, river meet

Floodplains wash beneath our feet

Puddles form, channels fill

The Devil scores “1”, others “Nil”

Trees bend beneath the weight

Leaves washed amid the spate

Corrugated roofs scream in pain

Battered by incessant rain

Despite the constant drenching stream

Humidity clings like Hades’ steam

Quake now with ancient fears

Scared to death of the Devil’s tears

There’s no need to be outdoors

Clothes soaked from sweating pores

They say that fear can make you sweat

The Devil is ready to take your bet

Huddle under mothers’ skirts

Ears covered, thunder hurts

Afraid to face the thing outside

Family myth comes alive

Try to recall if they’ve done wrong

Don’t want the Devil to take them along

Thunder booms from the Devil’s throat

Lightning bolts from his hands float

It’s the tears from his eyes when he’s in pain

That accounts for unremitting rain

These tales we need to ban

A tropical storm is God’s watering can.