Hot August Night

A moment of silence beyond stillness.
In the distance night
the thunder is grumbling
like a faraway avalanche.
drumrolls are miles from here 
but coming now.
The darkness shining 
with the rain bouncing high
from the pavement.

Electrical discharges
crackle as the air explodes.
Looking out of the window
at a cataract of waterfall torrents.
The buildings of the city distorted
like reflections in a hall of mirrors.

Inside the air conditioner creaking
And groaning at its impossible task.
The thunder is now overhead
Filling the room with odor of ozone
In the streets water flows 
in rivers to the
overloaded storm drains.