Rain falls

pounding

the roof

pink clouds

in the distance

swallowed by

a smokey monster

lightning and a sonic boom

pure chaos

in this tiny room

while I look at a dogwood tree

perfect in its beauty

the gutters flood

an SUV drives by

I’m just staring out the window

into the storm

peaceful skies

interrupted

by merging thunder

a mile away

lights flash

the rain stops

lives lost

beyond the storm.