Lightning Before Thunder

I can hear 

The sirens wailing

It’s unnerving

Tension in my neck

Skittering down my spine

They’re in my head

But there is a 

Peace

In them

Rain on the sidewalk

Filling me up

The unending sound an

Odd harmony

To my ceaseless thoughts

Circular and pulsing

Until there is

No room left in the air

Only sound and

Sound and 

Sound and

Lightning before thunder

Count the seconds

One

Two

Three

Is the storm passing?

The sirens wail on

I wonder if

Something is burning

A strong old ash

Tree split

Dry leaves smoldering

Or if it’s me

Sirens branded

Into my mind

Skin smoking from the 

Lightning strike

One

Two 

Three

Four

The storm moves on

The rain gentles

A soft patter among

The sirens

It smooths my edges

Cools my ravaged skin

Slowly

One

By

One

The sirens stop

A wild cry in 

The distance and

Then only the memory

Remains

Standing in the drizzle

Face to the droplets

Arms to the sides 

And 

Quiet