Dusk Approaches

Cool grays own the sky now, replacing the brilliance and deep blue of the day,
Dusk approaches, drifting on the light breeze whispering through the leaves,
The delicate aroma of rain floats in the open windows as a stillness grasps the neighborhood,
Out on the front porch the cool gentle caresses of air drive away the day’s sticky grit,
Spent stems of last week’s bright colors bend to the delicate gusts as a tranquil volley of rain drops begin,
Not the harsh rush of other storms, unannounced by tirades of thunder and jagged light
A simple, placid, serene descent envelopes the front yard,
Slowly working its way to the earth only to disappear - leaving not a trace,
As the perfume of damp earth and concrete begin to permeate the air it comes to a close,
Now just the cool breeze and the darkening skies hint at this day’s end,
Subtle grays give way to light oranges and reds and pastel pinks thrown from the western horizon across the sky,
Let me revel in this moment, let me carry it with me for just a short while, let it become my memory of this day,
Ending in solace and contentment, far from its stress and distress, a smile, relief as the sun dips slowly behind the mountains..

Raucous noise

Rolling thunder out the front window right now,

unusual fall thunderstorm building in strength

rattling the windows and filling the darkened sky with raucous noise and sparks of light

as the ground fills with the first significant rainfall in weeks.

Unmistakable aroma of wet earth and rain fill the breeze

working its way through the open window while the thunder deepens...

a lullaby for tonight's dreams...

First Spring Storm

The loving sounds of spring's first storm rumbling through the darkness out the front window tonight, matched with the few jagged streaks of light, 

a cooling breeze rising in intensity and the unmistakable aroma of the pending rainfall slipping in the open window. 

Not silent and ghostly like winter snow, 

this spring storm steps boldly out into the night with rising crescendos, 

soon to be matched by the clatter of the rain, 

giving rise to a bursting colored palette of new growth from the dark earth in the following days. 

Stay for a time, 

fill the ground with your precious gift,

sing your song through the night, 

like a lullaby bringing dreams to fill my sleep...

August night

The sky is dark with the night coming on quickly
The summer sunset is blocked by an invading cloud mass
Cracking and rolling across the sky the thunder announces the storm's presence
Accentuated by the flashes of electric blue randomly igniting the sky here and there
Reaching to ground in violent streaks of light and power
As the low guttural sounds crack and rumble the drops begin to fall
Slowly at first then in a torrent seemingly to escape the unsettled sky
To seek the apparent safety of the earth
Filling the gutters from the roof tops to finally melt away into the parched ground
Or drain from the hardened surfaces in panicked rivulets
The air is cold as it moves through the open front windows
Fresh, filled with the smell of the earth and electrified air
As quickly as the tempest erupted it subsides
The occasional roar has diminished to a quieted din off in the distance
Leaving behind a cool, fresh darkness meant for sleeping...