power

for l.c.

The thunder cracked and the time
On the red face of the clock fell away
and the wild outdoors pulled everyone inside
gasping for air and flowing with water–

so we sat in a smelly corner with hard seats
and stared through the darkness without
finding a single face, and tried to keep track of
loud voices with the people behind them, until

a quietness was formed, and words became
scarce for the first time no one shouted
over three others all drowning each other
out in desperate want of an ear, so I began

to hear the quiet things, the truer things
about them, a haunting peace that lasted only
till the lights came on and the energy exploded,
and they ran around again while I sat watching.