THE STORM

The thunder carries on growing louder
and then louder still.
I imagine it cannot get louder
that it must begin to retreat
but louder still it comes,
until it stops.
Clearly, abruptly.

My body in terror wonders if it
is possibly now too loud to hear,
too close to feel.
My heart in terror recognizes a familiar question:
How can something which commands the world
cease to exist so suddenly?

Sarah A Bean