Rain

The wind caresses the wearied flora,
Massaging their stressed exterior,
Rain has been scarce lately,
But the air carries an expectant promise.
The wind dies off with abrupt intensity,
Humidity strangles the air,
The earth and its dwellers hold their breath,
It seems prayers will be answered.
The sky darkens with gradual determination,
The clouds assembling in order,
They agree to disseminate their burdens,
Gently, but then with urgency.
The earth sighs its passionate thanks,
Young animals somewhat confused,
The rain renews faith in Nature,
As a benevolent force.
Water burbles and bubbles excitedly,
Soaking, seeping, running rampant,
The tired and dusty film clinging to everything,
Is replaced by a vibrant sheen.
The water runs down leaves and branches,
Forming miniature torrents on trunks,
That run down the parched bark,
And form burgeoning foam at the base.
People run naked outside with arms upstretched,
Allowing themselves to be bathed,
Taking a heathen joy at the gift,
Offered to alleviate their depression.
Crops are saved or at least reprieved,
Animals slated for slaughter or sale,
Given another chance at continued life,
As they can now be fed.
Children waltz at their fortunes,
Adults smile and remember,
Wondering why they stopped doing that,
Then join in, laughing.
Dams swell with unabating vigor,
Replacing dinner plate cracks,
With cool, clear water,
Then teeming aquatic life.
For now the memory of dryness recedes,
As life languishes in liquid,
But hard times will eventually return,
So we can appreciate the good.

We hadn’t had rain for 7 weeks and things were very dry and dead. Then, we got 7 inches in four days. This poem was an attempt to capture the way that I felt.