Tropical storm Barbara was nearing Hawaii.
In Death Valley it was 115 degrees.
Barbara, reports said, was diminishing.
One source said she was picking up speed.
In Death Valley not even the salamanders were moving.
In Burlington, Vermont, it was cool.
There’d be regular updates on how Barbara was doing.
In Death Valley the bones of cattle were on fire.
Burlington would have showers off and on.
Tropical storm Barbara was a doozie.
Even when slowing down she was picking up speed.
One source was sure of it.
Death Valley’s forecast was for more of the same.
In Burlington, Vermont—lake effect, fog.
Barbara, everyone now agreed, would be a hurricane.
One source insisted she already was.