Tornado Alley Annotation

In today’s times, most people in the tornado valley seem to think that tornadoes are just a predictable part of life, but not only is that a very modern way of thinking, but it is also one built on false hope from storm technology. Phillip Paradis’ “Tornado Alley” is a poem that presents tornadoes in both their literal and metaphorical aspects and through the experiences of the people of “Tornado Alley” the poem displays tornados’ power of chaos and devastation, but it also captures the unpredictability, transformation, and resilience that tornadoes and natural disasters can bring. "Tornado Alley" opens with a false stillness, as Bo Sample dozes "behind the wheel of his oversized pickup outside the Baptist church," a scene depicting everyday life that is about to drastically change (Paradis, lines 2-4). The tranquility of the situation provides

Paradis used this scene to reflect the duality of the nature of the tornado in its role as a destroyer and as an unlikely harbinger of positive transformation. The sudden shift from total destruction to the fragile image of "one yellow dandelion at [Jed's] feet" also contrasts the fragility of life with an almost ironic scene of such a tiny delicate flower surviving the tornado (Paradis, lines 25-26). In that moment, the dandelion becomes an image of hope, a token speaking to the determination of life during destruction. Paradis' choice to put this symbol under Jed's feet attests to the fact that hope and renewal are always within our reach, even in our moments of desperation. Clara Hammond also contributes to the rich thematic content of the poem. Her newborn is taken out of her arms and can be witnessed alive, another near-impossible coincidence of nature that is observed throughout nearly all natural disasters (Paradis, lines