The Lightning before the Thunder

Summary

The author poetically describes the beauty of lightning, personifying it as an unnamed, humble artist painting the sky, and expresses a deep appreciation for the creativity of nature at night.

Abstract

The article "The Lightning before the Thunder" is a reflective piece that captures the author's awe and admiration for the spectacle of lightning in the night sky. The author likens lightning to a mysterious and powerful artist who paints with a myriad of colors on the canvas of the heavens, creating transient masterpieces that are both mesmerizing and terrifying. Each bolt is seen as a unique expression of art, with colors representing emotions that the author feels are bestowed upon them. The author muses on the artist's unawareness of her own beauty and the comfort her dance brings to the observer. They express a belief in a higher creative force that feeds their soul with the nocturnal display, turning them into a lover of the night, a nyctophile.

Opinions

The author views lightning as a symbol of creativity and artistry, an entity that creates beauty without seeking recognition or celebration.
Lightning is described as having a dual nature: it is both a beautiful spectacle and a source of fear for many.
The author feels a deep connection to the lightning, seeing it as a personal performance that brings them emotional fulfillment.
There is a sense of gratitude towards nature for providing such a magnificent display, with the sea acting as a mirror for the lightning to appreciate its own beauty.
The author holds a belief in a creative force or deity that understands and caters to their spiritual hunger through the wonders of the night.

The Lightning before the Thunder

During the night when everyone is sleeping, I see an unrivalled proportion of creativity in the sky. The clouds are floating, and the sky looks brilliant. But I love it more when the sky is accompanied by a cabalistic friend. She is cherished by very few and scary to the little ones. A beautiful beast that roars like a tigress and shines like a diamond. The Lightning before the thunder.

To me, she's an artist. An artist who wants no name nor has any desires to be celebrated. She acts in every modest way to prove so. Calving a work of art at a time and erasing the spot immediately for a new one like no artist ever would wish to. I have seen lightning using the sky as her blank grey canvases to paint a still life. Spilling the colours perfectly. They were red, purple, grey, black, blue, orange, and whatnot. Those colours are emotions that she painted me with. Painting slightest of blue on my neck, purple to my hair, diluting pink into my eyeballs, and orange was my heart. Red was the crown I was wearing while watching her plays. While she was painting on the sky like her canvas, with her graceful shine and light. But while she unleashes herself, she scares most of you.

I accede having a scant intellect when I attempt to tell her what I see in her. I run out of words to describe the beauty I see. The most aching part to me is the thought that she might be oblivious to how flawless she is. I wish I had a mirror to show her that the beauty in her dance, when she celebrates her skin, comforts my senses. But then I thank creation for the sea that resides on nature’s lap. Maybe she sees herself when she gyrates her tail above the vast sea. One of the most cherished beauties aiding the least acknowledged realize how contained she is.

I’m a Believer. Believer in the existence of the most creative person sitting up there, above me, and even above the sky. He knows that I’m an admirer of nights and I’m hungry. The earthly bread isn’t enough to satisfy the hunger in me. Maybe that is why he decided to feed my soul with his creativity at night and made me a nyctophile.