TORNADO

Last night it snowed on the Tehachepes

but the Grapevine was open.

Driving down I-5, we saw vast
angel wings of hail and snow falling from the sky,
and a massive cloud column or tower—
I joked that it looked like a budding tornado.
not that I have ever seen a tornado.
It had lightning, and a rainbow! A real tornado.

From the heights of Hwy 33, 

you could see how the cloud tower

came all the way down to the ground 

in a wide pillar, pulsing and swirling.

A cloud show of biblical proportions

suckling everything in, 

including the last remnants of daylight.

4/11/12
rev. 4/11/19

Incredibly beautiful entry into the Mojave Desert. We managed to visit three state parks yesterday: Fort Tejon (sadly, it's slated for closure—it has a wonderful interpretive program for kids like Fort Ross—ranger Michael D is the best); Antelope Valley Poppy Preserve (alas, no poppies—but the volunteers are fabulous!), and Red Rock Canyon State Park—sublime mud and clay formations. You've seen them in all the old westerns, folks.