Four Winds Whispering

 

The air

warmed by the earth beneath,

rises

lowering pressure on the land;

the air

over the sea

remains cool and dense,

higher pressure than anything

inland.

Aura,

mountain maiden,

warm-soft rippling,

you play the crowd,

lifting,

caressing,

then slip away,

untouched,

as we turn

to your dance.

Boreas

of the Sarmations,

Notos

of the Nubians,

Eurus

of the Indians,

Zephyrus at the gates of Africa;

ancient bones

of I2-point wind rose,

life-breath of the Gods.

With pressure difference

high moves

to low,

sea

to land

to equalise,

creating sea breezes

fro sultry summer days

and beaches

cooler than our inland fields.

Capricious

summer winds

shovel in

and out

of Bieggolmai's cave,

til brightening Argestes,

cloud-clearing,

cheers sailors,

homeward

bound.

World-wide

the winds respond,

as sun's rays,

direct striking equator's belt

with slanted angles

glance at polar lands.

Now rising equatorial air (low pressure)

draws

air circulation

from colder poles.

Feng Po Po

riding through the clouds,

on tiger back;

winds burst

shrieking through,

mocking mouth-masked sheltering,

latch-lifting,

window rattling,

dust-dense,

blasting blow.

Reckoned

world's first

meteorological station,

combined sun-dials,

water clock

and wind-vane

Triton Andronicus'

ancient Athenian

'Tower of the Winds.'

Khamsin fifties,

hot and dry,

Ghibli

gathering,

presage

dust-filled storms,

wilderness winds, 

excoriating eremos,

and hermit saints called to cleansing

in the silence of the desert.

Stand on Lakota winds,

eagle vision,

from the invisible realm,

connect past to future

as present fights for breath.

God of wind and breath

usher in

four wind whisperings

of life

enriched again.

Paul Middleton

Image by Mila Young