the whirlwind

my great-aunt May
had a story
about the time she was
walking home from
the grocery store, and a tiny
whirlwind picked her up
and twirled her around
before setting her back
on her feet. she didn’t even
spill a single orange from her
grocery bag. but the one thing
no one ever asked her
was if she felt any different
inside.

as someone who
is currently dancing
with a whirlwind, I can say
that although outwardly
I may look the same,
on the inside I am
forever changed.