The Atlantic | December 2003 | Hailstorm

Contents | December 2003

More on poetry from The Atlantic Monthly.

The Atlantic Monthly | December 2003

Hailstorm

by Kay Ryan

.....

Hear the author read this poem (in RealAudio)

Like a storm
of hornets, the
little white planets
layer and relayer
as they whip around
in their high orbits,
getting more and
more dense before
they crash against
our crust. A maelstrom
of ferocious little
fists and punches,
so hard to believe
once it's past.

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Kay Ryan, a lifelong Californian, has published five books of poetry, including Say Uncle (2000).