Sam Kauffman Poet Free verse

Summer Storm

Ceraunophilia - 7-13-26
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Summer Storm

The day grows dark, ominous with rumbling,
We watch a hood of humid heaviness 
Slowly slide across the face of dusk
With wispy veils of mist, a harbinger’s whisper
Turns green leaves silver in brooding twilight stillness.

In slowly rising chords of chaos
Crickets hide and even air holds it’s breath
To listen for the steps of a far-off symphony.

Our eyes grow ready as sallow clouds swallow dusk
When the rising perfume of summer rain
Fills our nostrils with it’s signature
And raindrops sizzle on sidewalks
Dancing in frenzy, faster - harder.

The sky explodes to our delight
With brilliant shards of light in spirals
Then shakes the night with belly laughs, delighted with itself.

We run to open shutters wide
And lie upon the bed
To watch this full born summer storm
Plunder midnight with crashing waves of booms and fury.

♡Like1

Share Poem

---

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

David Crandall August 3, 2026 at 10:04 PM Great description, including the feeling of the leadup to the storm! Sam Kauffman August 4, 2026 at 11:04 AM Hi David! Thank you! There was such a sense of anticipation leading up to that storm. And, while the dog hid under the bed, the rest of the family prepared for the light show! Hope all is well. Blessings to you.😊

sara Etgen-Baker July 30, 2026 at 5:29 PM alive with energy and imagery! love your poetic voice. Sam Kauffman August 2, 2026 at 4:49 PM Hi Sara! Thank you so much! Have been so busy with P/R and press releases for Winged Warrior I missed the results of the contest. Have always been mesmerized by summer storms. I am delighted with this contest theme. Thunder and lightning are rich sources of visual images. Hugs and blessings.

I Am Anaya July 30, 2026 at 1:55 PM Back with Congratulations on your placement, Sam! Blessings Sam Kauffman August 2, 2026 at 4:45 PM Thank you so much, Anaya! I am so honored with this placement. Sending blessings on waves of light!

Bj Legros Kelley July 21, 2026 at 1:29 AM Oh, I love this! We used to turn off all of the lights and open all of the curtains to enjoy the storm, so much fun! Nowadays we have to keep music playing and lights on to help calm the pets, who don't enjoy the wonderous splendor even a teensy bit!

Paige Hind July 19, 2026 at 10:28 PM lovely imagery, and so alive, Sam

Ink Empress July 17, 2026 at 10:29 PM Samszy, Ah, my heart is full, after reading your beautiful poem. How you paint imagery and how youv used poetic techniques like alliterations ~ as well as how youv personified elements of nature, the summer storm is impeccable, impressive my sweet soul! You weave words like an artist! With a brush, so creatively’ i especially love the line “ Crickets hide and even air holds it’s breath To listen for the steps of a far-off symphony.” i held my breath! And my heart quivered! Pleasure reading ~ sending you light always ~ best wishes in Craigszysz contest

Joanna Daniel July 16, 2026 at 10:40 PM Awesome poetry, Sam, hope this places high, you make summer storms seem beguiling:) Sam Kauffman July 17, 2026 at 12:10 PM Hi Joanna! Many thanks! Me too! I love your description of summer storms as beguiling. For me they do seem to cast a bewitching spell as I watch them gather their fury then explode. Hope all is well with you! Sending you blessings.

Hiya Sharma July 15, 2026 at 8:32 AM Woahhh this one paints a thunderous musing on the heart! The way you've described a soul admiring the majestic royalty of lightening and summer storms that slash a across the sky! Absolutely love the descriptions throughout with alliteration and everything! "The face of dusk" and "With wispy veils of mist, a harbinger’s whisper" so brilliant and atmospheric.. pleasure reading this, dear Sam.. sending you light and best wishes always. Sam Kauffman July 17, 2026 at 12:07 PM Greetings Hiya! I am so glad you enjoyed this description of a summer storm rolling in on thunder and lightning. It is based on a true storm which went on for quite awhile one summer night. My youngest and I love to watch storms. Somehow storms like this almost beg to become a poem. Sending you blessings of joy and my gratitude!

I Am Anaya July 13, 2026 at 5:47 PM Sam, such wonderstrucken moments almost made for the enjoyment of the storms exuberance. Nature can be well enjoyed, wish I was there too. Faving for the imagery, what a poetic voice you have! Blessings Sam Kauffman July 14, 2026 at 11:40 AM Greetings Anaya! Summer thunderstorms are quite an occasion for sitting back to revel in nature's show of power. Truly an awesome experience. It would be fun to share one of these light shows with you. So grateful for the honor of your fav! Many thanks!!! Sending you summer blessings of joy!

sara Etgen-Baker July 13, 2026 at 3:26 PM outstanding imagery, dear Susan...summer storms are delightful, aren't they? wishing you well. Sam Kauffman July 14, 2026 at 11:33 AM Hi Sara! Thank you! It seems to me that a summer thunderstorm just begs to be a poem! I agree! They are delightful. This poem is based on one of those storms when our youngest and I raced to open the shutters then sat back and watched the light show! Hope all is well. Blessings and hugs!