The oaks shone br gaunt gold br on the lip br of the storm before br the wind rose, br the shapeless mouth br opened and began br its five-hour howl; br the lights br went out fast, branches br sidled over br the pitch of the roof, bounced br into the year br that grew black br within minutes, except br for the lightening - the landscape br bulging forth like a quick br lesson in creating, then br thudding away. Inside, br as always, br it was hard to tell br fear from excitement: br how sensual br the lightning’s br poured stroke! and still, br what a fire and a risk! br As always the body br wants to hide, br wants to flow toward it - strives br to balance while br fear shouts, br excitement shouts, back br and forth - each br bolt a burning river br tearing like escape through the dark br field of the other.