Two giant cumulonimbus clouds
circle each other warily.  They
are the powerhouses, the strongest,
most evenly matched of the wrestlers.

     ~~~~~     ~~~~~     ~~~~~

They test each other, with lightning-quick
feints; lean into each other, vying
for advantage.  They meet head-on in
a collision that is seen and heard.

     ~~~~~     ~~~~~     ~~~~~

Each impact is outlined in scarlet
red in the darkening skies; each fall
registers on the Richter scale; gusts
of wind are purged from the burdened mat.

     ~~~~~     ~~~~~     ~~~~~

Their perspiration falls as rain; shouts
thunder from the battling contestants.
Neither wants to concede.  Suddenly,
one hits the mat--the storm is over.


(C) Copy written, 2003; Revised, 2004, by Karla Dorman.