Tornado

To me, a tornado is something I’ve seen
In “The Wizard of Oz” as a child.
It hardly seemed real – so much damage and fear
With the forces of Nature gone wild.

Yet the newspapers carry a horrible tale
Of a mile-wide tornado that struck;
And for residents caught in the path of the storm,
There were dozens who ran out of luck.

More than fifty are dead, many others are hurt;
Homes are flattened, with cars strewn in piles.
Oklahoma, though often the sunniest place,
Will for now be quite lacking in smiles.

When Nature rears up and delivers her wrath,
We are frequently caught unawares;
And it’s random which people succumb or survive,
For tornadoes won’t heed someone’s prayers.

Observing the scene from a distance away
I feel sorrow for all those affected;
For tragedy somehow reminds us that yes,
We are all of us somehow connected.