Power Outage

Alone at home, candles flickering
Hear the flame burning
Silence deepening, not yet breaking
World at bay, no longer invading
Only the distant swoosh
Of an occasional car on wet pavement.

All is mum, no humming or buzzing
Clock ticking boldly
Darkened street void of lamplight
Energy rising from within
Slow, still, quiet, timeless
Shadows all around, feeling a pin drop
Dog barking from somewhere in the night
Furnace resting, cat scratching
Sirens howling, wind chimes serenading
Thinking, praying, listening, remembering
Wondering, hoping, wishing, dreaming
Clock ticking bolder still.

It’s cooler now
Seeking warmth in the dampness
Slowdown, shutdown, hunker down
Stay away world
Savor these moments
Feeling safe from within
Only the clock on the wall keeps time.