Keraunophobia

                       (noun)

“a morbid fear of

 thunder and lightning

 

she flinches at these

                               (like a cat’s introduction)

but will compromise,

close her eyes,

and feel two things:

 

hot Louisiana rain

                             accepting it quietly

                             like a second chance

 

and my jacket’s lining

                             clutched tight as a miracle

so close she almost

         mistook my pulse and lullaby murmurs

for rolling thunder

September, 2013