More of Pearl's Story

The Storm

Not all of the days were spent fishing;

Sometime the winds blew with such force

That the chimney shook and

The peacock shutters banged and fretted

Until the brothers had to tie them back with
The net string they kept for repairing their fishing nets.

It was a very strong string,

Made to keep the tossing and flipping fish

From falling out of the net.

Morning, afternoon and then evening

And still the winds blew

And the waves slashed onto the shore

As if to settle affairs with the fishermen.

The stove had a good supply of wood

And so the brothers knew it was a good time

To cook fish and bake biscuits and

Watch the skies until they became dark.

The baby goat lay curled up on its straw mat;

And the brothers lit their pipes

And rocked back and forth

In their large wooden rockers

Until it was late enough to go to bed.

And that is what they did,

While the house

Shook,
And the winds

Howled

And the baby goat

Slept.