when a thunderstorm is coming
you know
there’s a quality of light
that’s not the same
as when it’s only overcast
that peculiar odor to the air
acrid
and slightly electrical
the far-off rumble
like a drum corps
when the parade is still
a mile away
maybe the wind will start
to pick up
and if you happen to be out
walking the dog
he will stop
and sniff at it
sure, he knows too
plain as anything
everybody knows
and when the weather alert
on your smartphone goes off
you look at it
and roll your eyes and say
well, obviously
we don’t need technology
we don’t need anyone
to tell us
we just know
we always know
so why, darling
when the storm was coming
why didn’t i know?