After the Storm

Rainwater stands in rippling pools, or trickles by. Sharp fusillades of hail pelt down...and glance -- Far distant thunder calls, and echoes a reply. Sunshine, streaming through the clouds, lights up the sky; Like sunlight, shattered by a prism, rainbows dance -- Rainwater stands in rippling pools, or trickles by. In search of worms, a daring robin, keen and spry -- As warbling songbirds greet a pristine world, entranced. Far distant thunder calls, to echo a reply. The earth seems, here and there, to nearly liquify -- Stray raindrops falling, glisten...happenstance. Rainwater stands in rippling pools, or trickles by. In full glorious bloom, wildflowers revivify... Like tiny armies, windswept, sway and prance; While distant thunder calls, to echo a reply. Rows of thunderheads, arraigned, withdraw on high -- While shadows flee -- daylight makes swift advance. Rainwater stands in rippling pools, or trickles by; While distant thunder calls, to echo a reply. Previously published in Lyrical Iowa, 1993 Written March 27th, 2005