salina, ks

early this morning

as the thunderstorm rolled in

i fed you the names

to its each of its parts

to push aside your fear

we repeated the words

like mantras

each time a flash

came through the seam

in the hotel blackout curtains

your words smaller

and a moment behind mine

lightning...lightning

thunder...thunder

lightning...lightning

thunder...thunder

after the storms had passed

and the morning arrived

you woke

and turned your head

to the windows again

you spoke

as if you were talking

to your toddler friends

who were getting into their parents cars

the morning after a sleepover

bye bye lightning

bye bye thunder

bye bye dark