I reach up as I peak To scrape my nails against the lows Of the shadowed blue underbelly of stormclouds, Lightning has splintered the skin of my knuckles, The rain washes away pink, The thunder echoes between my singing ears – Rebirth is not in my nature despite that I Am long since expired, Press my splintered palms again against the unyielding earth As if I could catch grass out of the drained-dry dirt As if I could find grounding in the in-between I press my fists again against a bled-dry earth, I Move to rise again Full knowing that I will be Struck down, Again I move to stand against the storm With no weaponry save my voice And it roars back, Snatches the air right out of my lungs and Thrusts me to my knees, The thunder like steam sweeping in to Throw me from my feet, It shakes the skin around my ribs until I Admit that I can’t breathe, I stand up to the storm with no defense except my voice And it laughs back down at me. It rains down heavy, I cannot stand, can barely see It