A Kind of Rain
This wasn’t a light drizzle that comes and stays for a month
growing mildew and long shank weeds.
Not a thunderous downpour that drives up under doors and window sills
chokes gutters and washes garden plants away in a rush.
This was a generous rain that the land celebrated in advance.
(ants built raised mounds, birds played acrobat on overhead wires
farmers got high with anticipation)
This rain showered morning soft on the dry earth
a tip toe around the yard giving new purchase to old roots
by afternoon it was a fox-trot in your head
then turned into an evening jig a jig on the roof
a soft shoe lullaby came later.
This was the sort of rain that made ducks quack louder and people go quiet,
this rain was gone by first light and left the countryside bejewelled with promise
making you want to go out and do something outrageous
it was that kind of rain.
|