fireflies

Yesterday's weather was magnificent. Cool, overcast morning. Then thunder shook the building where I work. Rain fell lightly at first, then in sheets. The rain grew whiter, rounder, colder. Hail, the size of pachinko balls (?!) falling with more thunder. I gestured for one of my students to stand up and have a look, but being a good girl, she didn't dare stand and look out the window during class.

cherry petals
in a hailstorm
like morning fireflies

by afternoon, the sun cast long shadows and all the hail had melted. There was a cool breeze and the only remnant of the morning was in the memory of the rain and the fluttering petals outside the window.