(Water color by David Chorlton)
A hummingbird clings to the edge of a storm.
The mountains rumble and
clouds above them gather in a steamy bouquet.
Dust has swallowed sunlight
and the thermometer trembles before a fall.
A raindrop, having waited since March
for its moment, slaps
the backyard concrete hard. A startled
rabbit on the grass lifts his eyes
to the grey scent rolling
through and listens with the tips
to the hairs on his coat. But it’s another
false alarm: the sky
shades pink. And the rats come out
at sundown with their ampersand tails
and question mark noses, climbing last light
to be close to the stars.
