Thunder rumbles in the distance

I remember

Claps of thunder waking me from a dead sleep

Lightening snapping

The hot smell, the sizzle

The electricity charging the air

 

I remember the clouds swirling

Twirling,

The sky turning a sinister green gray

Shifting the world

From a warm summer’s day

to a frightening night

Huddled in basements

 

I remember cold so bitter

My snot froze

Ice coated windshields

Frozen fingers and toes

Thawing by the heater, numb

 

I remember my dog jumping on my lap

Thunder making him shake and shiver

Giant softball hail breaking windows and pelting cars

 

I remember excesses

Tornadoes leveling neighborhoods

Trailers twisted

Debris flying

 

An ice storm so bad power went out

Poles downed from the weight

Whole towns closed

Streets undrivable

 

I remember flooding

Underpasses closed

Basements full

 

I remember lightening flashing like a strobe

Through sheets of rain

 

Glad to be safe, in the middle of the ocean

Lightening an interesting phenomena no one fears

Rain is just rain

Snow is an anomaly

Not an ice storm to be had

Just palm trees sweeping the sky

The wind gentle and kind

High tides just enough

To delight the surfers