A THUNDERSTORM

A thunderstorm is preceded by some very significant signs. The atmosphere becomes close and stuffy. The sky is dull and cloudy; but sometimes drifts of clouds in the upper air rush about helter-skelter. There is all around an ominous stillness. Gradually from the horizon dark-blue clouds emerge and spread out all over the sky:

“ There are spread

On the blue surface of the airy surge, 

Like the bright hair uplifted from the head

Of some fierce Maenad, even from the dim verge

Of the horizon to the zenith’s height,

The locks of an approaching storm.” – Shelley

It takes a poet to realise the scene in words as Shelley has done in the passage quoted.

Then the storm breaks. All the heavens seem to open and blaze “with thunder such as seemed shoutings of all the sons of God”. A deep far-off noise – “Nature’s elemental din” – comes nearer and nearer, and one sees the spaces whirl in eddies of dust, and feels currents of cool air – like messengers of peace who bring a message of war. Thus the storm comes sweeping along at a terrific speed. It is accompanied by flashes of lightning that whip the sky from end to end, and deep rumbles of “the dread – rattling thunder” that crash through the atmosphere with terrific ear – splitting sound. Soon rain begins to fall in torrents shutting out from the sight all distant views. Nothing can be more magnificent or awesome. The high wind, the vivid flashes of lightning, the deep reverberation of thunder, the heavy downpour of rains combine to produce a profound impression on the mind. We are reminded of Shakespeare –

“Since I was man,

Such sheets of fire, such bursts of horrid thunder,

Remember not to have heard.”

The spectacle is too awful for wards. The human scene during a thunderstorm has its peculiar interest. Man realises his own insignificance, - how petty he is in the vast universe. He feels timid and scarified:- “When clouds appear, wise men put on their cloaks.” None dare stay out. There is a general rush for refuge. Lightning makes shelter under trees unsafe, and so somehow, under any ledge or roof, people huddle together to escape the fury of the storm as well as to feel some confidence in each other’s company when Nature seems to be up in arms. For the time being the forces of Nature are triumphant; the human element has beaten a retreat. If we are not too much in the grip of terror, we can enjoy the swish of rain to the accompaniment of gusts upon gusts of high wind and sheets of lightning cutting across the darkened sky.

The after-effects of the storm are both sublime and pitiful. Nature is washed and purified; earth is refreshed and cooled; the green vegetation has become greener; and bluer the deep blue sky when the storm clouds are scattered. The fields are one sheet of water. On the other hand, birds and beasts suffer heavy casualties; trees are uprooted; cottages are wrecked. The poor man’s sufferings are very great. But the pleasing coolness that succeeds the close, stuffy spell before a storm is most welcome.