thunderheart.

the bolt of lightning that cracks the sky
lights everything up for a split second.
the puddles jump with the boom of heavy thunder
as the kids count mississippis on their fingers.

this weather tells of impending summer
and that smell in the air tingles my nose.
the goose-pimples on my arms rise again
as another boom rattles my window.

I light the candles, just in case,
and look around at malicious shadows
that crawl across the floor and climb the walls
and begin to wish I didn't turn the light off.