summer storm in the mountains

Gray softens the light outside my window.

My head turns, drawn out by the waves of leaves

to a deck damp with summer rain. Drops tap

the wood, pine needles, my arms with cool

breaths of pressure. Lightning blinks

over the far ridge. It pulls the clouds to

obscure its edges. A dog barks as thunder

rolls along the dells. A bird chirps, then falls

silent as droplets hasten, releasing

the heavy weight of moisture from the air.