Exquisite Corpse

The lightning struck furiously

All around us, like strobe lights

At a disco tech.

My brother looked over at me

With a cringed face.

We both knew that

One of us was going to die that saturated night.

Evil and good we stood.

He was sparkling,

Twinkling from the flashing rain.

I felt the flame, but took comfort in it.

I noticed my life long nemesis

Had his hair on end.

Static electricity was coming over him.

Ha! Ha!

I knew my anger had to take over

And carry me through.

The wind picked up.

Crack!

A near by tree took fire

Jolting us to the ground.

I could no longer see him.

The heat caused a sudden steam

As if snorted from the earth,

I  became aware that we stood on a dragon

Breathing on us.

Inhale; wind.

Exhale; mist.

Flash!

I composed myself the best I could

And spotted him

Also coming upright.

I started swinging my fist and swearing.

Swearing at my brother,

At the wind,

At the flaring tree,

I swore at the hidden stars in the sky;

At the surrounding stars,

The stars created out of the lit rain.

Not much could be heard, for

The dark clouds muffled me.

I was tremulous with anger,

He with fear.

All went to silence

For one second.

I looked up at the sky.

Then two.

The earth began to rumble.

We made our last eye contact.

The three,

CRACK!

At first we both shook like John Travolta

On Saturday Night Fever.

But the fever was enthralling.

I loved the rush.

I could feel the break down of my nervous system.

What alchemist could have guessed to

Mix fire and adrenalin?

I became Quetzalcoatl,

A god of lightning.

My arms span out,

My finger melted into feathers.

My eyes never relented their stare,

Even at their blood filled state.

It was fireworks.

I watched my brother as he fell to his knees.

He trembled tremendously.

Sparks danced from every fissure

Until he was torched.

Torched from the dragon’s mouth.

His flame burned a hole in the clouds

Exposing the moon,

Shining like a jazz ball

“Exquisite Corps!”

I roared like thunder

“Exquisite, I had never known before,

Brother, you looked electrifying!

Now, however,”

I had to pause, short of breath,

My thunderous voice tired of hammering,

“You appear to be burned out!”

At that I ended my gaze and about faced.

Evil now stood,

Then walked away.

                                                -Stephen G. T.