I gain power from the storm.
The lightning flashes in my eyes
Like migraine splotches and fireflies in early June—my birthday,
And I can feel the deep thunder rumbling in my bones:
A vivifying vibration grappling inside me.
It’s rough and shakes my frame, lifting me,
Driving away the old deceased salty soul-flesh bits, stuck down;
Something’s born inside me.
I feel no pain.

I can close my eyelids
And plunge myself into the darkness
Before the storm does the same to the homes around me.
Like minds think alike?
It plunges all into the darkness, cutting off the phones.
No connections, but I feel more connected.
The clouds have absorbed energy,
And the weather beast has given it to me.
It’s growing.

I look towards the powerless sockets on the walls
And read the dread in their faces—open mouthed, wide-eyed.
In the darkness,
Lightning strikes,
Or did I smile?

Mama’s in the basement,
yelling to get me down there.
She’s scared—socket-faced.
The radio’s storm-reports are the metal plug that conducts her mind,
Flip the switch on worry,
Ignite the fright,
But I look outside and all there is are light grey clouds.
The clouds are building inside me.
Mama’s plugged in to fear,
And it seems the sudden power surge
makes her a burnt fuse.

I, however, am grounded,
So the power flows through me.
I feel fresh—watered by the new-falling rain—sane.
I let the storm front carry me.
The backdoor creaks as my hand leads it way from its frame.
Mama’s screaming from the basement,
But the rain drowns her out.
I want to go out.

Internal-external thunder booms secrets in my ears.
Lightning smile: bright, fast and quick—a flash;
Grounded knowledge booms.
Now. I know.
I know know.
Another flash anagnorisis.

I’m on the back porch;
There’s rushing behind me,
arms trying to grab me,
fingers trying to pull me in.
In front of me, the wind rips and roars up
And cracks like a whip.
I pull myself away, make it to the driveway.
I look up at the sky, dark grey and black,
Feel the rain on my skin;
My being finally recognizes this feeling, and it lifts.
And I jump.