A summer in the midst of coastal scrub
Is not a normal time or place for rain,
As evidenced by copiousness of shrubs:
That’s all our meager rainfall can sustain.

And so an August beach bonfire would seem
To be a suitable, in-season thing,
So much so that no-one would ever dream
That climate might preclude the reveling.

Surprise! Unseasonable humidity
And low gray clouds composed of more than mist
Required of plans certain fluidity,
Until a lightning strike that barely missed.

While weather wreaked impressive disarray,
At least it wasn’t on the wedding day.