summer storm 04/15/11

summer storm

first the sky is bright with summer sun
the breezes gentle
the sky a porcelain blue bowl
inverted overhead
slowly
almost imperceptibly
at first
the winds pick up power
branches sway and
loose leaves begin to dance
from the west
a dark band of clouds
flows across the sky
like dark molasses
the first whispers of thunder
are heard from a distance
the clouds scarred by lightning
the sun is cut off from the earth
the winds roar steadily
greediliy
the thunder bellows in rage
and the lightning attacks
as the the rain dumps down
over the sussurations of rain hitting the ground
a new sound is heard
like frying bacon or
a loose eltrical wire soaked in water
the sound of hail
striking the sidewalk and pavement
the day dark as night
as what looks like
Armageddon
rages on and on
and stops
almost as though a switch were thrown
the hail melted
the clouds thinning
the temperature dropped
the rain spent
and the thunder again
a whisper in the distance

©2011-Art Belliveau