Poetry. Storm

Storm
Flashes of light dance across a sky so black
Clouds explode with an almighty crack
That was yesterday, now blue skies are in contrast
With a green canopy of treetops, a desirable forecast

A leisure hike through bush tracks today
With pathways marked to guide all the way
The huge trees stand in upright splendour
No sun to be seen, thick foliage galore

There are no snakes or spiders that mattered
Fantails darted and wild pigs scattered
Shy little kiwis are like large puffballs
The white-throated tuis made occasional calls

A bright flash I saw, then a thunderous roar
A tree came crashing to the forest floor
Light was showing where the tree had once been
Now rain was heavy, a upsetting scene

More flashes of lightening, a scary outlook
Next an ear piercing clap, the whole forest shook
My clothes were now wet, no coat nor hat
So this is summer, I really doubt that

The storm recharged many times, that was weird
Forrest floor all slushy as water appeared
Rabbits scurried and birds made a tweet
I’m thoroughly soaked from my head to my feet

The track markers are gone, and now I’m lost
Also cold and wet, feels like frost
I took shelter in a huge hollow log
Hopefully I’ll be found in this watery bog

Thoughts of a cosy fire, maybe a hot drink
Waiting for rescue, I’ve time to think
Hours later, now the sun has shone
The lightening, thunder and rain are all gone

Well, what’s this, a marker to show?
The guideline that I needed to know
I’m saved; I don’t need help to find my way out
Deliriously happy, I started to shout

Following the markers, now easy to see
I’ll soon be home, a nice place to be
How fast a storm comes, that’s hard to digest
Could have been worse, but maybe less stressed
Now back home in my own cosy den
I dream of more hikes but just don’t know when
Checking the forecast will be my first deed
To make sure it is safe is what I’ll read