Warm, indolent air lies upon the ground
waiting. The cat lies hidden in the heat,
deep in the grass, watching its prey – no sound
disturbs the ancient, primal drumming beat
of blood inside the temples. A slow breath
of air moves stealthily among the trees
while nature waits in silence. Life or death
will be decided by a sudden breeze.
The smoky river eases its way through
the valley under sullen yellow skies.
Dark clouds, heavy with rain, move closer to
the earth. The cat, with shaded yellow eyes
watches while shadows darken all along
the shoreline. Patiently and quietly, it lies
unseen in the grass. Ancient, primal song –
drumming silence pierced by the heron’s cries.
The air collides and lightning cracks the sky
while thunder low and deep moves through the ground.
The rain unleashed in torrents melts the eye
and beats the rolling earth with drumming sound.
And then—just as suddenly —it is gone,
the thunderous clouds swept far to the east.
Late afternoon light creeps over the lawn
and down to the river. We are released.