blue sunlit skies
brilliant sun a warm respite
drying out both body and soul
days of steady rain cool and damp
a distant memory
fading fast
soothing me to slumber
embraced with intoxicating rays
the warmth entering my very bones
peace in my secluded garden
forced awake by wicked winds
blowing from the very same blue sky
commanding winds, harsh
bullying every tree and bush
whipping, twisting, pushing, pulling
forcefully dancing to its every whim
startled alert seeing, witnessing
the skies above began to turn
quickly as a rabbits bounding leap
shades of gray, silver to steel
steel to graphite, and then to obsidian itself
from early afternoon the blackened sky
spoke of night as darkness fell
swirling rapidly, filling every corner
the blast of light as bright as flame
lit the area, no longer safe
stepping inside, watching mesmerized
heavy rain smashed upon the earth
thrown to the ground by a force more powerful
than expected, or imagined
booming thunder shook the house
an earthquake gift of the stratospheric
messenger
flash upon flash zigzagged the sky
followed by more menacing
thundering booms rattling windows
setting off alarms
dogs cowering, whimpering
terrified as if the only safe shelter
was inside your skin, clawing and begging
while holding tightly they trembled and shook
the tempest ran wild cavorting with delight
reveling in its antics
sending glowing bolts left and right
the scent of ozone
spoke of nearness, too near
sounds of sirens augmenting chaos
trucks raced to the place unlucky
to have been in the path of this maelstrom
then as rapidly as it had descended
rain began to trickle to nothing
onyx darkness whispered away
revealing clouds, lighter in hue
palest salmon with splashes of violet
turning golden and crimson, rose
magnificent gifts to appease the frightened
populace, now observing
in awe this new and sublime illumination
so markedly different in every way
then the spectacle we had just witnessed
after each deluge, the g-d given sign given a promise kept that never again will water envelop the land
gale no matter how mighty, terrifying
will always end and light shall prevail
tony scarpa
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