Lightning and the Free Man

LIGHTNING AND THE FREE MAN

He straightens to stretch tight muscles
His rippling, black skin shines with sweat --
It courses over his skin like
the mother river and her many children.
White hot, never-ending sun--
Waves of heat can be seen rising and warping
To the horizon and probably beyond.
Water, he thinks, just a dipperful--
He closes his eyes to imagine&;#8230;
Chilled, fresh, oh sweet Jesus, water&;#8230;
Wetting his lips, over his parched tongue,
slip-sliding, coolly down his throat&;#8230;
He can almost taste it, feel it, the need is so strong&;#8230;
He doesn't see man and whip bearing down on him&;#8230;
SNAP!! CRACK!!

He awakens with a start, his body tense
Feeling dampness on his skin,
Down to the roots of his hair.
His limbs are tangled amongst sheet and blanket
As if he had been bending and stretching all night.
SNAP!! CRACK!! Again&;#8230;
He flinches, waiting for the blood-letting pain of a whip.
White hot sun, cracking whip, pain in his back, thirst&;#8230;
Slowly he realizes it was a dream, just a dream.
KA-KA-BOOM-CRACK!!
It is a thunderstorm which woke him.
He's not in a field bent over picking as in his dream.
He lets out his breath as his heartbeat slows.
He has an unbearable thirst for water
As if he had been put out to dry in a mid-afternoon sun.
Making his way to the bucket he pours himself a dipperful of
Chilled, fresh, oh sweet Jesus, water&;#8230;
He feels it soothe his dream- parched mouth
Slip-sliding, coolly down his throat.
KA-KA-BOOM-CRACK!!
The dream always comes when there is a thunderstorm.
He takes another drink trying to slake his dream's never-ending
thirst.
KA-KA-BOOM-CRACK!!
Another, another and yet one more.
He sits on his porch to watch rain and sky
Knowing there will be no more sleep for this free man tonight.

? Brenda Morrissey 2003