Crackle of Lightning

The crackling of lightning,

Was a sight so frightening,

And the thunder rumbling loud,

Burst every grey moving cloud,

These sights and sounds terrified him his whole life,

Even when he married and had a son and wife.

As a child, he huddled beside his mother,

As the lightning lit up the night sky,

Brighter and brighter in blinding light,

He dared not look at the streaking light,

For fear that it would blind his eye.

His fear remained as a teenager,

He cowered in terror on every rainy stormy night,

Afraid of those blazing flashes of light.

Then he grew up and he forgot his fear,

Till he was caught out in the pouring rain,

He looked up and saw the lightning flash,

Lighting up the monsoon sky,

He saw his son shaking in fright,

He used to be the same day and night.

He rested his hand on his son’s head,

“Do not worry son”, he quietly said,

“This astraphobia will go away someday,

Then you can sing in the rain and play.

I was afraid of lightning flashes like you,

But I am stronger now because of you.”

Lightning and thunder had shaken his world,

The day that he lost the woman he loved,

Life was never the same under moon and sun,

Except when he looked at his only son.