Lightning

After a lovely viewing of 

Sense and Sensibility,

I sank into a cozy slumber,

awakened shortly

by ominous words

in a dream. 

Benumbed with alarm,

body shaking within,

I rose and crept through the house,

checking this, checking that, checking all,

light bursting into my eyes

as I turned toward a window. 

I blinked and questioned nothing. 

Only later did I realize

that the halo of rays

had been lightning --

lightning outside

mirroring the lightning within,

exploding again and again

into the depths of night,

shocking me

anew.