The thunder echoed
Across the darkened sky
I wondered,
Momentarily,
If you could hear it too.

Was the sky darkened for you
As it was for me?
Were the trees trembling
In the wind
As they were for me?

Did you feel the shift coming?
Did you welcome the change
In your soul of souls?
Or were you fearful
Of chasing away what you knew
To exchange it for something
You could not know,
But could not stop?

I hope you are safe
Enclosed in your solitary world
I hope you are happy
Without me,
Though secretly
I hope you shed a wistful tear
Occasionally
For what might have been

Before the thunder
Before the wind
Before the rain
Before the shift carried you
Away from me.

By Deborah E. Dayen