Thunder

by Jefferson Carter (from Get Serious)

Lightning, then, of course, thunder.

We can get used to anything.

The window, lit up, shakes

& we’re comforted, pulling

the blankets to our chins. The dog,

half-blind, diabetic, fat as a woodchuck,

burrows between us, panting,

trembling like she’s never heard

thunder before. Maybe she hasn’t,

she lives so much in the moment.

Here’s her day: I was in. Now I am out.

I was out. Now I’m in. You going

to eat that? You going to eat that?

I’ll eat that! Here’s her night so far:

What’s that? Thunder. What’s that?

Thunder. What’s that? Thunder.