A Night Out of Sorts

By Lydia Manx

Deep in the night thunder slams
Into my dreamscape

Ra-ta-ta-tat ra-ta-ta-tat
Crash and smash of sounds

Lightning that illuminates the rainfall
Hammers me awake

Hours until dawn stretch before me
My pillow abandoned

My mind wanders unfettered by demands
Adrift to ponder

Ra-ta-ta-tat ra-ta-ta-tat
Crash and smash of sounds

Sleep no longer an option for me
I crave darkness

Rain pelts the roof over my head
My window shakes

Ra-ta-ta-tat ra-ta-ta-tat
Crash and smash of sounds

The noise forces any reasonable thoughts
Outside my brain

Ra-ta-ta-tat ra-ta-ta-tat

6:20 pm
California
23 February 2005