At the End of the Storm


It’s the consequence you see
in the bright strokes
between the night-soaked black striated clouds,
not the lightning itself –
long spent, beyond
sight, past even
your furthest horizon – but the result,
the magnificent
mirroring into the center
of night, flash
of light
like the wildly painted brush strokes
of a frenzied artist
discontent with the darkness,
and so bringing the day reflecting
back to us
in slices 
              of illumination.





first published in Avocet
© 2004 DJ Gaskin