Texas Storm

lightning ignites fourth of July fireworks

over prairie and highway,

thunder rumples and roars in September

light trails flicker from tree to tree in the sky forest

ripples zip branch to branch and down a tree trunk 

bolts explode on rolling grasslands in the plains

oil derrick skeletons indifferent keep pumping 

while overhead a foil net crackles,

flows and surges to ground 

we’ve driven ten hours from Four Corners,   

four more to go to reach Dallas

clouds open, torrents pour

sheet lightning stretches for miles 

the windshield wipers work double time

we slow down to keep control of the car

a sports car zips by in a hurry,

slips and spins out in front of us

my husband yanks our car two lanes over

we swerve and avoid a collision 

the other car settles catty-wampus and broadside

we toddle past, 

take the slow way home

and enjoy a vast light show

late fall evening

blackbirds land 

in bare trees

the chirping brightens

the leafless woods

wind stirs the chimes

falling rain freezes

the sidewalk glazes

slush coats weeds

fireplace crackle sends 

blue smoke curls up the chimney

I smell the wood smoke

and follow it home 

https://issuu.com/moniqueberry/docs/halcyon_days_2019_-_issue_15

Date Published: September 22, 2019