is romantic in love songs

but miserable in real life

when you’re just trying

to get your groceries

to your car especially

when gale force winds

drive the rain down

and sideways and up

while thunder bangs

and lightning draws bright

white lines from sky

to ground and you walk

through water ankle-deep

and you know you won’t

be wearing those sandals

again for three days at least

and you’re wet down

to your underwear and you

can’t see out of your

rain splattered glasses

and you just want to get home

dry off, put on clean clothes

never go out again.