Flayed by the driving rain, of black clouds scud across the sky, <br />
The world roars with rage and the very ground trembles.<br />
I watch as lightening spears the darkness, <br />
The stark outline of the trees stripped bare by winters ravaging chill.<br />
<br />
Wind screams, cutting the knives of sharpened frost, <br />
As I raise my arms to embrace the assault, <br />
All that lives cowers in the shadow of elemental wrath, <br />
Yet I stand and roar my challenge to the maelstrom.<br />
<br />
Mountains rear in the darkness, <br />
Colossal megaliths of malediction's promise, <br />
Looming, immense, all knowing, <br />
Stoic against the fury of the storm.<br />
<br />
The raging tempest shrieks of hatred, <br />
Bunched clouds toil with the need to destroy, <br />
But I will remain unmoved in the face of the assault.<br />
I welcome the pain of nature's vengeance.<br />
Eyes clenched shut, <br />
The freezing wind and stinging waters<br />
Fear my skin and slake the thirst in my yearning soul, <br />
Never have I felt so alive, <br />
Every nerve tingles, every sense razor-keen, <br />
<br />
This frail, thin, stooped prison of flesh, <br />
Punished and invigorated.<br />
<br />
Crushed into the sodden earth.<br />
<br />
And therein will remain forever.