The Chase - In Memory of Tim Samaras

I wrote this piece after reading National Geographic's recent article about the work of Tim Samaras.  I sent this to National Geographic with my thanks for their writing and they responded with sincere appreciation for my words.  This poem is in honor of him, his son Paul, and friend Carl who were fellow researchers involved in Tim's "Twistex" organization.  They died studying the largest tornado ever recorded which occurred May 31, 2013 near El Reno, OK.  This wildly unpredictable twister swelled to over 2.6 miles in diameter and changed directions overtaking their car.  This video is from that tornado, but from an unknown source.  I have placed it here as it was the best example of the tornado I could find capturing its unpredictable strength, behavior, and violence.

Life and death converge,

Between Heaven’s tears, 

And the fury of Hell, 

While Earth shudders, 

Before a dark terror, 

A screaming howl, 

Without a voice, 

Shredding the land, 

And shredding the mind, 

With fear before it, 

And nothing behind, 

Yet fear confronted, 

Is mystery confounded, 

For he stood in its path, 

To gain understanding, 

He stood in its wrath, 

To learn the answer, 

He ran towards danger, 

To push us to safety, 

Confronting death, 

To give us life.