the next day

more moisture, we ask?
yesterday yielded
thundering torrents
and flash flood warnings.

as mother made our way
to a late lunch
a deceptively easy drive
turned to puddle panic—
our tiny two-door
flirted with drowning

the flood’s gone down
but a desultory drizzle remains
reminding all residents
that rainfall is as easily
liquor of death
as elixir of life

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