still life

midnight sky in tornado
green, full overcast with no break
in the clouds and all reflecting

light pollution illuminating
a quiet midnight walk. The quiet
breeze through the leaves,

tall maples and sycamores,
a chorus, call and response with
a deep thunder rumble sounding

in the distance. Garden lights reflected
off the side of a car look like one of them
ufo pictures—but even surrounded

by suburban trappings he felt
the calm of no cars
rolling by and no kids

and nothing unnatural, no cars
and no kids and nothing
unnatural.