LIGHTNING FOLKLORE

(ABSOLUTELY NOTHING)

 

Grew up with a healthy

Fear of Lightning

First rumble of thunder

Wooden windows opened

Tea cup saucers

Placed on window sills

Rain filling the chipped china

Capturing the Lightning

So we helpless humans

Would not be struck

 

First few years in Florida

Watched amazed at the

Cloud to ground

And sheet Lightning

Reminiscent of the 1970s

Light shows strobing the walls

It became my favorite nature event

And I’d dream by the window

As in the past

When captivated by gentle snow

 

Then fear hit one day

Driving home from work

When suddenly a thunderbolt

As if from a mythological god

Hit the ground inches from my

Car’s windshield

 

I think a once-upon-a-time

Philadelphia mayor once said

“A conservative is a liberal who’s been mugged”

And that’s what happened to me

The Lightning lover almost mugged

In the Lightning capital of the nation

Tampa Bay

Began to stay away

From the lovely sky fire

Born of fear

But hey

Lots of natural phenomena to observe safely

So I paraphrase a favorite song* and say

Lightning, what’s it good for…?

 

© 2025 Clarissa Simmens (ViataMaja)

IMAGE:  Lightning Fire Poppet (by M. Rosen)

 

*Written and performed by Edwin Starr

https://youtu.be/ztZI2aLQ9Sw