Thunderbolt
As a child I saw lightning
making blue sparks
on the back porch
and running over the iron rocks
into the old house against the hillock.
I could smell the thunderbolts
and it smacked down, much louder
than a gun
and as a small child
lightning did not scare me
and I walked in the rain
in a thunderstorm.
Until a day
where cattle fell dead around me
and then I got the real significance
of thunder
and now they press a thunderbolt
right into your head
and you are belted down
by people with white coats
who look very clinical,
who look at you from a distance
when they press a lever
who look at your fear and disconcertment
without feeling
and I see that you are still alive
and breathing,
when they push the lever again
and suddenly yesterday is gone
and your brain burnt out by half
and you can remember almost nothing
of your childhood days
and they believe
that you are halfway cured
and there’s a hell of a pain
that I see in your eyes.
poem by Gert Strydom
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
Conversation
Dad, I believe that you are resting where you are
that you are unaware of everything
as if you are only sleeping
but sometimes it feels
as if you are aware of my whole life,
then I wish that you could read my verses
as you were living for Afrikaans
and it was as if poems were in your blood
and I am wondering what you would have thought,
would have said as I am writing
every poem in English as well,
that it is the Scottish blood running true?
Sometimes when I see lightning bolts
trailing white blue down to earth,
getting the smell, almost like sulphur
where a thunderbolt falls
I am unafraid form being a child
and it’s as if I hear the voice of God
as if you are also near
like when I was a toddler
taking my hand in yours
and then I could not comprehend
that they were putting you in the cold earth,
it was if you had just left by your own will
which is a really strange thing
as you were truly in love with mom,
loved me and my younger brother
as if you would give your life for us
and when I go to your grave in the hillocks
at Heidelberg, at times I am dumb
as if an old pain
comes into my heart
and again I want to
walk into the hillocks with you
to gather protea flowers for mom
to give them to her in a glass vase
to together stand on the porch
while lightning bolt after lightning bolts
falls exploding form the sky,
to get the smell
of the first drops that are falling.
poem by Gert Strydom
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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That Rain
Thunder starts rolling in
As it fell from the skys
Rain
Oh how it knows me so
As I stand underneath it
While I welcomed it with wide open arms
With my head facing the lightning bolts up ahead
The rain drops upon my face
Like welcoming kisses
As the thunder roared louder than the mightiest lion
As the lightning bolts lit up the sky brighter than Vegas itself
I twirled in the rain
Not caring who saw
In that rain
That rain I welcomed ever so
That rain which had the softest touch I had ever felt
poem by Storm Pedersen
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A Deafening Nature War Of Hell!
Do you know how war could be in Nature?
Do you know how war could go on in the Sky?
I got the opportunity to see Nature War yesterday!
War of rain with lightning and thunder paraded the Sky
More than an hour in the evening over the town beach
Making me feel as if caught in the middle of the ocean!
Lightnings fell from the Sky straight around the town!
All thunder sounded like electric fire crackers of Diwali!
Nature War reminded me of carpet bombing of Gulf War!
Divine artistic branches of lightning spread everywhere!
The experiences of Moses felt I displayed by God
To show His wrath over the pollution of man on Earth!
Hot days of Summer developed low pressure over town
Bring heavy rain with lighting and thunder deafening hell!
poem by Ramesh T A
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Lightning
Its crazy but often clear
But often clear
We shimmer and disappear
In color, in black and white
Black and white
We slowly fade out of sight
But these days were lit by lightning
These lights all were white
Its crazy but somehow clear
Somehow clear
We ride in silence out of fear
We spoke and soon come alive
Come alive
We prefer the silence of the blind
But these days were lit by lightning
These lights all were white
These days were lit by lightning
Of sharp,light,sharp,white,light,hard,good,white
Were crazy but often kind
Often kind
Enrage and in violence blind
You gather, and that alone
That alone
We race in small circles home
But these days were lit by lightning
These lights are were white
These days were lit by lightning
Of sharp, white, light
These days were lit by lightning
These lights are were white
These days were lit by light
song performed by by Counting Crows
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Thunder Touched (Cavatina Sequence)
There is a place with scorched molten earth
near some hillocks
where blue lightning lashes repeatedly
and there it knocks
anything that it can find with its fire,
where some big rocks
draws it somehow on that much higher ground,
that is cleared from anything around.
The sky was ominous grey and brooding,
intensely black
while static or maybe fear made hairs rise,
we did turn back
while some rain, bird egg size hail drilled down;
under attack
of great blue-white thunder that was falling
with a mighty whipping roaring blue sting.
Just in time we reached some safe cover,
we were drenched
while bolts of blue thunder fell threatening,
in fear clenched
were the fingers of both her tiny hands,
as if wrenched
the muscles of her arms moved in pain
while thunder lashed again and again.
Blue-white blazing light fell on closed lids;
her inner eye
remembered decimating scorching
from some times by,
when medical staff unleashed a bolt
let fury fly,
torching some synapses of her own mind,
experimenting they acted unkind.
poem by Gert Strydom
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Lightning Strikes Twice
(murray, harris)
I feel the breeze on my face in expectance
Not very long before the storm reaches here
Off in the distance the lightning is flashing again
Feel something strong as the power draws near
Is it the rolling of thunder that scares you
Is it the crashing of clouds that hold fear
But all I know as I sit in a corner alone
It takes me back to my childhood again
And as I wait and I look for an answer
To all the things going round in my head
I ask myself could it be a disaster and when
Its maybe threatening to happen again
As the ominous light draws near
Theres a lone dog howls in the park
All the people hurry inside
As a lightning flash lights dark
The storm is nearly here
Only God will know
Youre sitting alone you watch
As the wind is blowing treetops
And the swaying rustling leaves
Plenty of time to perceive
As you wait for rain to fall
Only God knows
The whole sky glows
Maybe lightning strikes twice
Maybe lightning strikes twice
song performed by by Iron Maiden
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Cornfield
I see the young green buds
and smell the rain falling on fruitful ground
somewhere in the distance there are thunderbolts
that every now and then falls, explodes and branch.
A long forgotten summer still stays with me
and the glow of your bright blue eyes
where in the shade of a big old oak tree
we had a picnic next to this cornfield,
the rain that suddenly falls from a cloudless sky,
lightning bolts that ominous get closer and closer
and you and me running like elated children
in the cornfield
to the shelter of the shed
and like naughty children
embrace against each other
but here life has also passed me
and what I have of you, is only memories,
a grave where I sometimes put flowers
and sometimes it’s as if you
are still invisible keeping near to me.
poem by Gert Strydom
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At a pan at night
In the dark night I hear horse hoofs
coming on thundering
and there are sparks
bursting from the quartz rocks.
In the sky
there’s a sickle moon
and the hairs
on my arms raise
while blue thunder
fall like shots around me
and I can smell fire and sulphur
on the wind.
For a moment
while a church bell
rings of midnight in the distance,
there’s a horse standing neighing
on its back feet.
Just one look
frightens me past being awake
when another lightning bolt
strikes down next to us
and a horse
with a man without head
passes me at great speed.
In the distance at a ruin
I see an old woman in white
with a shrill voice
cutting through the night.
“Can nothing stop you
Jan van der Meer? ”
[Reference: Die ruiter van skimmelperdpan by A.G. Visser. A legend from the second Anglo-Boer war.]
poem by Gert Strydom
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Dark & Long
Thunder thunder lightning ahead...long
Kiss you kiss you dark and long
Thunder thunder lightning ahead
Thunder thunder lightning
Thunder thunder lightning ahead
Now I kiss you dark and long
Thunder thunder lightning ahead...long
Kiss you kiss you dark and long...long
Me Im just a waitress she said
I went and bought a new head she said
I look at you I believe in you she said
Screaming into the eye of the lens
I want to smash it up
I want to break it down
I want a wall of tears...to wash away
Thunder thunder lightning ahead
Thunder thunder lightning
Thunder thunder lightning ahead
Now I kiss you dark and long
Filled with tainted girls and motel frills
What a laugh
You was done up there mate
Thunder thunder lightning ahead
I could kiss you dark and long
Thunder thunder lightning ahead
Now I kiss you dark and long
Shout your love
The stars are black
The church is sweet
My skin is hot
Thunder thunder lightning ahead
Now I kiss you dark and long
Shout your love
song performed by by Underworld
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Gypsy
Written by stevie nicks.
So Im back, to the velvet underground
Back to the floor, that I love
To a room with some lace and paper flowers
Back to the gypsy that I was
To the gypsy... that I was
And it all comes down to you
Well, you know that it does
Well, lightning strikes, maybe once, maybe twice
Ah, and it lights up the night
And you see your gypsy
You see your gypsy
To the gypsy that remains faces freedom with a little fear
I have no fear, I have only love
And if I was a child
And the child was enough
Enough for me to love
Enough to love
She is dancing away from me now
She was just a wish
She was just a wish
And a memory is all that is left for you now
You see your gypsy
You see your gypsy
Lightning strikes, maybe once, maybe twice
And it all comes down to you
And it all comes down to you
Lightning strikes, maybe once, maybe twice
And it all comes down to you
I still see your bright eyes, bright eyes
And it all comes down to you
I still see your bright eyes, bright eyes
And it all comes down to you
I still see your bright eyes, bright eyes
(she was just a wish)
(she was just a wish)
And it all comes down to you
Lightning strikes, maybe once, maybe twice
And it all comes down to you
song performed by by Fleetwood Mac
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Little Worn Out Pony
There's a little worn-out pony this side of Hogan's shack
With a snip upon his nuzzle and a mark upon his back;
Just a common little pony is what most people say,
But then of course they've never heard what happened in his day:
I was droving on the Leichhardt with a mob of pikers wild,
When this tibby little pony belonged to Hogan's child.
One night it started raining – we were camping on a rise,
When the wind blew cold and bleakly and thunder shook the skies;
The lightning cut the figure eight around the startled cattle,
Then down there fell torrential rains and then began a battle.
In a fraction of an instant the wild mob became insane,
Careering through the timber helter-skelter for the plain.
The timber fell before them like grass before a scythe,
And heavy rain in torrents poured from the grimly blackened sky;
The mob rushed ever onward through the slippery sodden ground,
While the men and I worked frantically to veer their heads around;
And then arose an awful cry – it came from Jimmy Rild,
For there between two saplings straight ahead was Hogan's child.
I owned not man or devil, I had not prayed since when,
But I called upon the blessed Lord to show His mercy then;
I shut my eyes and ground my teeth, the end I dared not see
Great God! The cattle – a thousand head – were crashing through the trees.
"God pity us bush children in our darkest hour of need,"
Were the words I prayed although I followed neither church or creed.
Then my right-hand 'man was shouting, the faithful Jimmy Rild,
"Did you see it, Harry, see the way he saved that child?"
"Saved! Saved, did you say?" and I shot upright with a bound,
"Yes, saved," he said, "indeed old man, the child is safe and sound.
I was feeling pretty shaky and was gazing up the track,
Just then a pony galloped, the kid hopped on its back.
"A blinding Bash of lightning then the thunder's rolling crack;
With two hands clasped upon his mane he raced towards the shack."
"Good heavens, man," I shouted then, "if that is truly so,
To blazes with the cattle, to the shanty we must go."
We reached Bill Hogan's shanty in fifteen minutes' ride,
Then left our horses standing and wildly rushed inside.
The little child was there unhurt but shivering with fear,
And Hogan told us, "Yes, thank God, there's the pony brought her here."
There's a little worn-out pony just this side of Hogan's shack
With a snip upon his nuzzle and a mark upon his back;
Just a common little pony is what most people say,
But I doubt if there's his equal in the pony world today.
poem by Anonymous Oceania
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The Sun Is Hidden (Terzanelle)
(after Lewis Turco)
The sun is hidden, huge shadows gather
while the wind rocks branches blow the leaves
and milling dark clouds draw together
this is the moment when thunderbolts cleaves
when rain drizzles, then pours down steadily
while the wind rocks branches blow the leaves
when full of superstition old people speak guardedly
of branches of thunder, sheets of blue-white lightning
when rain drizzles, then pours down steadily
and the bolts of thunder comes down somewhat frightening
when people draw curtains, sit in the semi-darkness, are afraid
of branches of thunder, sheets of blue-white lightning
and without power at candlelight the table is laid
while the acts of nature, its sheer power we cannot ignore,
when people draw curtains, sit in the semi-darkness, are afraid
and we have experienced this kind of weather sometime before.
The sun is hidden, huge shadows gather
while the acts of nature, its sheer power we cannot ignore
and milling dark clouds draw together.
[Reference: 'Terzanelle in Thunderweather' by Lewis Turco.]
poem by Gert Strydom
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Girl With The Hungry Eyes
I like to move at the speed of light
Albert says I cant -- but I can
Circle of stone, circle of steel
I want to ride in an iron wheel
I am a child of atomic war
You are the daughter of the overlord
Lets get together on the killin floor
Give me -- more, more, more, more, more
Violet lightning
Violet lightning
Shes the girl with the hungry eyes
The girl with the hungry eyes
She holds up half the sky
The girl with the hungry eyes
I just met the girl with the perfect lips
I just met the girl with the perfect fit
Every atom in my body could inhale her
Speed of light girl, she is a sailor
Violet lightning
Violent lightning
Violet lightning
Now were movin at the speed of light
Now were movin at the speed of night
And your home gets filled with newer people, people, people
And all your friends are gone so hang on, hang on to the
Girl with the hungry eyes
She hold up half the sky -- shes the
Girl with the hungry eyes -- I love the
Girl with the hungry eyes
song performed by by Jefferson Starship
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Thunder And Lightning
I thought that you thought that we thought we were bound to each other,
But it's not that way, we don't care about one another.
Thunder and lightning showed me all the threats you weren't saying.
Thunder and lightning; gonna throw it all away
Thunder and lightning, and you touched my life without warning.
Oh, how i loved you; you loved me; now, what are we thinking?
Thunder and lightning will burn you just as sure as i'm singing.
Thunder and lightning; didn't know our love would end this way.
You got your way, we're to blame, but that's o.k.;
Another time, another place, it's one more game.
After all is said and done, we'll overcome
The psychological setback of a time on the run.
It hurt to see you play games that were so one-sided.
I dealt the cards but the aces were in your back pocket.
Thunder and lightning won't let you alone 'til i'm paying.
Thunder and lightning; didn't know our love could end this way.
song performed by by Chicago
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Dark & Long
thunder thunder lightning ahead.
long.
kiss you kiss you dark and long.
thunder thunder lightning ahead.
bright lights shine. bright lights shine.
thunder thunder lightning.
thunder thunder lightning ahead.
now i kiss you dark and long.
thunder thunder lightning ahead.
long.
kiss you kiss you dark and long.
long.
me im just a waitress she said.
i went and bought a new head she said.
i look at you. i believe in you she said.
screaming into the eye of the lens.
i want to smash it up.
i want to break it down.
i want a wall of tears to wash away.
thunder thunder lightning ahead.
thunder thunder lightning.
thunder thunder lightning ahead.
now i kiss you dark and long.
filled with tainted girls and motel frills.
what a laugh.
you was done up there mate.
thunder thunder lightning ahead.
i could kiss you dark and long.
thunder thunder lightning ahead.
now i kiss you dark and long.
shout your love. the stars are black.
the church is sweet. my skin is hot.
thunder thunder lightning ahead.
now i kiss you dark and long.
shout your love.
song performed by by Underworld
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Dog Running
In thunderstorm, and a grey dog
A dog always tied, and in chain
But in thunderstorm, roaring
The dog is running, struck by fear
Enters the room, and under the bed
Pushes himself, places his head on his claws
The grey skin and fur of the dog
Keeper of the house, and near the door
A shepherd hound, loyal to the house
Men and women, children and animals
The dogs tail, cut but still long
And ears straight, eyes dark
I remember the dog, a friend old
When I was a child, and the village simple
My verse is simple, as simple as dog
I wish I had a dog like him, a friend of worth
The many things I mourn and the day’s happenings
But today, my dog I mourn you and remember you
poem by Sadiqullah Khan
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Thunder & Lightning
I thought that you thought that we thought we were bound to each other,
But its not that way, we dont care about one another.
Thunder and lightning showed me all the threats you werent saying.
Thunder and lightning; gonna throw it all away
Thunder and lightning, and you touched my life without warning.
Oh, how I loved you; you loved me; now, what are we thinking?
Thunder and lightning will burn you just as sure as Im singing.
Thunder and lightning; didnt know our love would end this way.
You got your way, were to blame, but thats o.k.;
Another time, another place, its one more game.
After all is said and done, well overcome
The psychological setback of a time on the run.
It hurt to see you play games that were so one-sided.
I dealt the cards but the aces were in your back pocket.
Thunder and lightning wont let you alone til Im paying.
Thunder and lightning; didnt know our love could end this way.
song performed by by Chicago
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Thunder And Lightning
THUNDER AND LIGHTNING I thought it was love
That hurt so bad,
But all of this time I was a fool being had.
Now it's the last stop for you, baby,
On my gravy train.
Well, I don't understand
How I could be so short of memory,
How I could just leave my pride in the rain.
No more thunder and lightning.
Nobody's gonna wrap me 'round their finger.
No more thunder and lightning.
Ain't gonna let you treat me like a prisoner.
You played with my mind,
Baby, much too long.
You played with my head
Until all feelin' was gone.
Now I'm out of patience and money,
And my heart is numb.
You kept me in the dark,
But now I finally see some daylight.
I've got a chance.
I'm gonna run, baby, run.
No more thunder and lightning.
Nobody's gonna wrap me 'round their finger.
No more thunder and lightning.
Ain't gonna let you treat me like a prisoner.
Nobody's gonna pull this thing back together.
It's too far out of hand.
If you wanna give it one more try,
Try it with another man.
[Guitar Interlude]
No more thunder and lightning.
Nobody's gonna wrap me 'round their finger.
No more thunder and lightning.
Ain't gonna let you treat me like a prisoner.
[Repeat Chorus]
song performed by by Richard Marx
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Sure Got Cold After The Rain Fell
Album: Sharp Dressed Men: A Tribute To ZZ Top
(Billy F. Gibbons)
Rain fell this mornin',
Made me feel so bad
On account of my baby
Walked off with another man.
Like takin' eyesight from the blind man
And money from the poor
That woman took my lovin'
And walked on out that door
And it sure got cold after the rain fell
Not from the sky, from my eye
--- Instrumental ---
Somebody tell me
Makes a man feel this way
Like a river without water,
Like night without day
And it sure got cold after the rain fell
Not from the sky, from my eye
--- Instrumental ---
Started early in the mornin'
You hear that rain to fall
With thunderbolts and lightning
The wind begins to call
Your worry's superficial
'Cause you slept on through the night
But stormy weather keeps you wond'rin'
If ev'rything's all right
And it sure got cold after the rain fell
Not from the sky, but from my eye
Not from the sky, Lord from my eye
--- Instrumental ---
After the rain fell
And it sure got cold after the rain fell
And it sure got cold after the rain fell
After the rain fell
And it sure got cold...
song performed by by Alan Jackson
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Johnny Thunder
Johnny thunder lives on water, feeds on lightning.
Johnny thunder dont need no one, dont want money.
And all the people of the town,
They cant get through to johnny, they will never, ever break him down.
Johnny thunder speaks for no one, goes on fighting.
And sweet helena in bed[? ] prays for johnny.
Ba ba-ba ba ba-ba ba,
Ba ba-ba ba ba-ba ba,
Thunder and lightning.
Ba ba-ba ba ba-ba ba,
Ba ba-ba ba ba-ba ba,
Thunder and lightning.
Though everybody tried their best,
Old johnny vowed that he would never, ever end up like the rest.
Johnny thunder rides the highway, moves like lightning.
But sweet helena just says, God bless johnny.
Ba ba-ba ba ba-ba ba,
Ba ba-ba ba ba-ba ba,
Thunder and lightning.
Ba ba-ba ba ba-ba ba,
Ba ba-ba ba ba-ba ba,
Thunder and lightning.
song performed by by Kinks
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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