Alone outside
standing on the dying embers of what is left of a perfect day
a gentle breeze blows through my thoughts
clearing the haze
amplifying the silence and doubts inside my head
distraction forces the emptiness away
there’s nothing more to say
as I watch the storm approach
clouds as heavy as drapes roll in
and soon rain blankets the earth
lightning cracks
I’ll flinch in the semi darkness
as the grass turns electric under my feet
the leaves dance orange and red
encircling me like confetti on fire
igniting an old memory
soft and bittersweet it rises to the surface
I hope you understand why I shiver
with a mix of awe and fear
at its impending power and threat
but I remain as still as possible
ignoring the danger
because nothing compares to the burning in my head.