Thunder is good, thunder is impressive, but it's the lighting that does the work. -- Mark Twain

Lightning does the work all right --

splits oak like an automatic weapons,

spraying woodshards big as decoys

on the lake that was the lawn, shooting

flares through summer sky, warning

planes that air is full of fire

and as dangerous as earth.

I am electric as I wade across the

grass, breathing in the thunder-fade.

Dirt beneath my fingernails

grows roses

yellow as lightning, red as fire.