In My Element

In My Element

By Brandon Palzkill

Through the waking darkness, I march,

with determination in my heart

and purpose in my footfalls.

The new day’s sun doesn’t know me, yet,

and I’m grateful for it;

the morning nighttime sky

offers stillness

and comfortable silence,

that the daytime clatter

will never know.

With every step, I am baptized

by cascading showers.

The rain’s milky haze catches the

ambient glow of the steadfast streetlamps

radiating ghostly coronas

that serve as beacons on my journey.

Millions of tiny falling drops

dance about the cooling concrete,

around me,

pooling; streaming;

amassing into many miniscule  rivers

racing to the bottom of the hill.

I am soddened by the downpour.

Moisture sloshes around in my shoes

with every treaded puddle,

as the soothing liquid

saturates my protective shell

seeps down to touch my flesh.

I let it wash over me

and everything becomes clear;

I feel all my troubles

leaking out of me with

the runoff,

and leaking down the storm drains;

I am content.