Jack B. Bedell

Storm, Barrier Island

This wind kicks up a mood, song
and silence, push and lull. And the sky
settles deep gray over the island,

a heavy blanket for shore birds
tucking in. There’s nothing here
for shelter, just salt grass

and sand. Nothing to do but lean
into this storm and wait.
No way to lock anything

down, no way to block what’s coming
or to hold any of this island in place.
The only truth here—

water and wind will have their way
eventually. Pelicans might circle
the ghost of this place for a while,

but they’ll have to make new nests
somewhere. They know better
than to lay eggs on hope and habit.