What is Thunder?

A charge, a roll,

a limit, a sound --

Deep in the canyon

Through rumbled ground

Across the olive grove?

The voice of God

In crying blood

Which split the temple

Stem to shroud --

Is there thunder

Within us --

Is there aught

Without?

What rumbles creation

If pillars,

In Heaven

Stand silent?

If Earth should split

Or clatter, another

Moon come --

Crashing down

What then?

Barring, sound

Come ye cockerel,

Stallion in rain,

Come ye, Mountain

Of Mysteries

Spouting sulfur?

Blanketing shrimp

Clacking claws

Marching, glacier

In peak, in cloud --

A rushing universe?

Bright with static

Hushing, loud

Thunder, do you listen,

Are you heavy --

Weigh you, light?

Compels you cataract

Or chasm, or

Clash of masses

Carving, spacetime

Do you question, or

Give answer?

Are you air's limit

Or hearing's fail

The Gate of Doom

Or Freedom's Bells

The sounding soul

With anguish, with Grace?

Tell us, in echo

What dance of eagles

Or tramping bison

Approaches --

The Sky?