A wall of dark clouds
pushed in from the north,
muscled over the horizon
to spread fear and gloom...
the threatening appearance
of a swaggering bully
confronting a small schoolboy
on the street all alone.
Lightening bolts flashed
like fists raised, like shouts
bellowed as intimidation;
winds howled with fury, spurring us
to scurry home, to flee to shelter.
Compelled to watch, to witness this attack,
we saw lightening lances thrown by giants;
felt the cosmic grumble of muttered threats,
heard the sharp clash of smashing grenades--
how their flashes lit up the black night, and
how the shadowy trees shook with fright
as earth’s creatures hid silent, in fear waited.
This sky-war was waged loudly,
boldly before us; oblivious of us;
from cover of porch we witnessed it all :
glowering threats and screaming attacks,
bomb blasts, bright swords blazing, and
finally, armies of storm clouds in smoldering retreat.
first published in Storyteller Magazine
© 2000 Bonnie J. Manion