Dust Storms

Mountains of menace

mantled the moon’s-way,

And dust-clouds rose

to darken the horizon.

They overtook cars

and out-ran trains;

Airplanes fell

from the endless sky.

Fires danced

on farmers’ fences,

And batteries burst

into balls of lightning.

Kine and coursers

were killed where they stood,

Shocked out of life

by the shining of the storm.

Turnips and potatoes

were torn to pieces,

The five grains, and maize,

caught aflame where they stood,

Pease and pulse

were pulverized in an instant,

Beans and bulbs

were burnt to ashes.

Sand devoured

the soft rich loam;

Black soil churned

into barren redness.

None could distinguish

night and day;

The weather-world

wore a Western mourning.

The sullied rivers

grew sluggish and slimed;

Dust fell like snow

on the decks of ships.