Thunder

Thunder made it all more serious.
The flapping wind,
the way the trees all rushed to lean to me,
but casually, as if to say,
"Yes, I could fall and take you with me,"
the momentary calms into which
the birds dropped calls as usual--
all these were only grace notes,
like the teasing drops of rain
to which the dog danced with panicky bravado.
But when the thunder uttered,
in the calm voice of the omnipotent invisible
in an unseen room next door--
then, yes, I stood,
and then, yes, I heard.

June 12 2011