After Rain
by Paul Carr

There had been a brief summer storm
From inside I had seen the lightning cut through the dark

I heard the peaceful drone of the rain
But it moved on, and shortly after I saw the half-moon through my window

Quiet and proud.

I decided to take a walk
Into the rejuvenated night earth I walked
Sound came and went with passing cars

Shiny wet.

I found a vantage point for the moon
A quiet place

A young cloud brushed the moon
Barely dimming the blue-sun shadows

The storm bank was visible to the east
Its clouds muted occasional flashes

Above me the moon's light dimmed the closest stars and planets save one
Shining brightly to the right of the moon

These two held throne in this night.

It seems rare to find this vantage in the city
The city its own night

A blinking white and red star rises out of the metropolis

As the storm bank edges past the fringe of view

A last thunder

Rumble along the tracks as the steel beast breaks sleep into a domino echo.