...has issued a severe...

when I turned back around
clouds poured across the sky
like spilled India ink
fingers at the edges
engulfing the last blue specks
until the prenoon hour was as dusk
ominous speed stilling my conversation
so that I jumped
(just a little)
when the weather radio blared
warning timely yet overdue
so that the automated voice
served as introduction
to the bursting cumulus
sluicing the pavement
drowning the air
and then once spent
bolting for the eastern horizon