“Prelude To A Storm”

anticipation builds,

a now gray sky

gradually becoming

that stomach-churning

blue-gray color of

spring and summer violence,

the rumble bumbling of

distant thunder

now growing closer

with each and every breath,

the soon-to-be flickering

of jagged lightning

that lights up the sky

like 4th of July fireworks,

a gentle whisper of a breeze,

soon churning itself

into a malevolent force

to be reckoned with,

the tempest looms large

in the just-out-of-reach

on the far side

of the horizon,

brooding now,

crouched and

ready to strike