MUSIC HEARD FAINTLY ON THE EDGE OF SOUND

The air looked
startled by the thunder

lightning ripped
the sky apart

easy as paper.

Later the evening
wore an ugly bruise

as if Heaven
had been badly beaten up

& left for dead.

The horizon remained
tight lipped

even the crows
refused to caw.

The trees said nothing.

The man
nursed his pain

like a drunk
over a slow gin

retracing his footsteps
to the car

sat inside
as darkness fell

& cried
softly to himself.