He drove out

all by himself

simply to see us

while the threat

of a tornado

loomed over my head

as though it owned me

but he came all the same

and I’m not sure to say

that I would do that myself

Terrified but sure

that I would hear

the dreadful siren

taunting me for my fear

of all that it stood for

though all I heard

was my grandpa say

that he brought me

a present for New Year’s day

Bubble wrap!

Hooray!

Pop!

it suited me so well

Pop!

I loved it so much

and it calmed me down

Pop!

I grinned giddily

Pop!

Right in Mom’s face!

Pop!

Boom!

I winced at the diverse sound

and cowered

as I stared right at the ground.

But then

Grandpa knelt down

and picked me up

as I looked at him

warily

and he said,

“It’s okay

we’ll be fine.”

Boom!

And then

he said something

that has kept me calm

and will for years to come

he said something

I will never forget

He said,

“God’s sittin’

up in heaven

poppin’ his bubble wrap

just like you.”

 

And every storm,

tornado

hurricane

flood

and possibly a blizzard

can can no longer shake me,

scare me

or even annoy me

And if that taunting siren

ever gets close

I will simply

remember the bubble wrap……..

Pop!