the lightening licking the horizon

the loudest thunder that i have ever heard

the sky opening up with all the tears we've ever cried

getting the wetness caught in my eyelashes and hair

feeling the cold full drops on my smiling lips

the waitress with the warmest eyes i have ever seen

the pancakes and the perfect hot chocolate

the blues playing in the liquor store and the man confused when i asked for vanilla cigarettes

driving and talking about manmade shorelines, the sky blasting away ahead of us, the ocean to our right

coming home, clothes wet

mahalia jackson and grant lee phillips, idaho and galaxie 500

sorting mail, licking stamps

lights still flashing outside, the room blue and dark

the bed soft and the conversation easy, 7up and cigarettes

driving home, the lightening far away behind the mountains,