Quiet After the Storm

Adrenal glands -
the ones that alert the brain

to make a body run and hide,
or become strong enough to stand and fight,

release hormones but if a crisis goes on
for too long, they exhaust the body

beyond the need to survive.
After the storm has ended

a quiet, like a soft blanket
descends upon each victim.

The state of emergency is over
it’s time to sleep to recover from

the bone rattling fear and maybe to discover
some much needed peace but every bump

seems to cause an overflow,
and the body is back on alert

again and again,
and again, and again

unless the person is old,
then it is easy to let sleep take hold

letting the younger folk figure out
alternatives for the best way to cope.