The forest blazes in a flash of light,
pines visible for only a moment.
Then shrouded again in the dark of night,
While the rain pelts in constant bombardment.

The towering branches creak in the gale,
tensing to snap in uneasy riot.
Like bones they rattle, so suddenly frail,
all holding a breath in dark disquiet.

One Mississippi, then two, three and four,
sound everywhere explodes, the axis tilts.
Restored as echoes fade to a dull roar,
the trees return to swaying on their stilts.

Standing beneath a sky torn asunder,
oh, what can I do but fear and wonder?