V: Storm sense

They saw forked lightening in the field
And Annie said
Look
But he had forgotten how to see
And she alone bathed in electric night

They heard drum thunder in the field
And Joseph said
Listen
But she had forgotten how to hear
And he alone whispered storm secrets with the charged air

They felt pure raindrops in the field
And someone unknown,
A voice inside said
Taste, open your mouths to the sky

And tears mingled with those from heaven
For the children, dumb and deaf as they were
In nature's rocking embrace

And so it was that Joseph saw the tree,
Flame-eaten, the branches
Although he had not seen the spark

And so it was that Annie heard the wind,
The heartbeat in the clouds
Although now it was older, mature
She had not heard the firstborn roll

They spun, oblivious
Until the storm whispered again
And then they slept, damp
Beneath a dying sky