I am sorry for the flooding in Louisiana and the terrible loss for many. It is still amazing to me that some parts of the country have too, too much rain, and here in Colorado we are so dry. It is an arid environment and we celebrate any kind of moisture that comes our way. So often the storms come down from the mountains or from the north and stop only briefly, then move on to the eastern and southern plains. There they intensify. A friend who lives about thirty miles south, in the country, receives much more moisture than we do in the city. These past couple of days we have had rain, and this time I captured a beginning in a short video, and wrote about it. We celebrate while others bemoan the clouds and rains that doesn't stop. Point of view in our lives is always something to consider, isn't it?
Those Rainy
Minutes
Late
afternoon, clouds crowd the sky,
offer
falling, falling drops.
Then
lazy thunder plays its tune.
It’s a
quick dunking of dusty leaves,
rather
like the swipe of a young child’s face
after
dinner-
Just
enough to shine the face.
Linda
Baie ©All Rights Reserved
Great ending, Linda! You're so right about perspective. Most of us don't realize that, though. We imagine that we are all thinking/feeling/experiencing the same things. That's why being kinder than necessary is actually necessary :-)!
ReplyDeleteJust read a poem that reminded me of you -- "Stopping by the Farming Pavilion (after Robert Frost)" by Richard Maxson:
Delete...Divergent is our fruited plain,
some fertile, while the rest need rain.
So many things we can’t explain.
So many things we can’t explain.
Thanks for "all", Tabatha. Being kind is the top of the list for me. And Maxson's poem is a perfect connection to my post.
DeleteLinda, I adore this poem, and that last image of swiping a young child's face. That is exactly it! We don't get much rain here, either, and the ground is always hard and parched in summer. We get excited about the prospect of a little "storm," but it usually only delivers that little swipe to refresh our faces. Sigh. (I also loved playing that video while reading the poem. What a great idea.)
ReplyDeleteIt sounds as if you know exactly this climate. And I thought since you lived near the sea that it would be different. Thanks, Renee.
DeleteI love how you end, precious. I wrote a poem about long-awaited rain recently. In case you are interested, it's here: https://friendlyfairytales.com/2016/07/31/stained-glass-garden/
ReplyDeleteThanks, Brenda, will find it! It seems that several are sharing about weather today, too!
DeleteWhat a great video, Linda, - you even captured the thunder. The poem has great feeling to it:
ReplyDeleteIt’s a quick dunking of dusty leaves,
rather like the swipe of a young child’s face
after dinner-
I am refreshed after your reading your post. Would you like to send me the video with the poem for the gallery?
I'll be glad to send it, Carol. I might try first to place the poem "into" the video. I know we're down to the deadline! Thanks, happy you enjoyed it!
DeleteIf only there was smell-o-vision to go along with your wonderful video - I love the scent of rain. Here in the desert it smells like creosote.
ReplyDeleteSo true about perspective - based on our personal history/experience the exact same thing can be viewed as good or bad.
You've but a "shine" on my face today, Linda. Thank you. =)
I tried to put that "petrichor" into the poem too, Bridget, but couldn't make it feel right. I love that smell too, especially in our dry climate! You're so welcome to the "shine"!
DeleteYes, such a perfect image - a hint of something wet but really it still leaves us thirsty. My hubby was in Colorado last week - such a beautiful place. (...& here's hoping for rain in your corner soon!)
ReplyDeleteGlad your husband loved it here. I do see beauty every day! Thanks, Robyn.
DeleteWe've been having moments just like like all week, Linda - love that visual of swiping a child's face, so apt!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tara, I did see your foggy picture this am!
DeleteLovely. Great sound effects!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Dori, glad to have captured it!
DeleteI, too, love your ending image. I played your movie as an antidote to today's heat and humidity. Ahhh....
ReplyDeleteOur heat is returning too, just not the moisture. Thanks, Molly.
DeleteThat video just made me want to climb into bed, pull up the covers, and wait for the lightning to get closer! I once wrote a sequence of seasonal "haiku from two points of view." I wish I knew what I did with it! ;-)
ReplyDeleteI hope you find it, Diane, it's exactly what I'm saying here, such different POWs. Thanks!
DeleteWhat a great post today, Linda! I love that your video catches the storm from the beginning— those first drops when the smell of summer rises up in celebration. And your poem is just as refreshing. Love that last line, especially!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Michelle. Somehow that small bit of time touched me & I ran to record it, then wrote.
DeleteThat sound you captured? We heard it for 36 hours straight. Even here that kind of rain is unusual, historical. Recovery is happening and things are beginning to feel normal again. I love that last comparison to washing a child's face because we all know it will soon be dirty again.
ReplyDeleteI almost didn't share this because of you and your people in Louisiana, Margaret. I've contributed to the Red Cross, know it must be heartbreaking to many. I'm so glad your home is all right. Thanks for enjoying the poem anyway!
DeleteAw, I love this:
ReplyDelete" It’s a quick dunking of dusty leaves,
rather like the swipe of a young child’s face
after dinner-"
What a great description of an unsatisfactory shower.
Thank you, Violet. It really is like that. The rain didn't last very long after those lovely video sounds, just like a child's clean face (most of the time)!
DeleteOoooh, lovely! This brought up a smell for me, that smell of hot dirt rising up on a little moisture.
ReplyDeleteYes! The smell is wonderful always. Thanks, Heidi.
Delete"the swipe of a young child's face after dinner" and the video brought the smell of early rain to me. Sadly, I don't smell it much. Beautiful poem, Linda.
ReplyDeleteI know you don't either, Julieanne. Thanks for coming by.
DeletePerfect video and poem! I have often reflected on the fact that some places are flooded while others are dry. Here in Haiti we have both, at different times of the year.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ruth, it is interesting to hear the differences from you, too.
DeleteHA! The swipe of the face....I can picture mother nature dampening a tissue with her spit and wiping the cheeks of those dusty leaves who are wrinkling their noses at mom's attentions.
ReplyDeleteWell done, you!
Thanks, Linda, that's exactly how it it!
DeleteI loved listening to your video while I read your poem! I could SMELL that hot wet flagstone smell!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mary Lee, no rain since earlier in the week. I'll be sprinkling today!
Delete"The swipe of a young child's face" - great imagery, Linda!
ReplyDeleteThanks Matt, I appreciate the comment!
DeleteWhat a beautiful combination of video and poem, Linda. You captured the peaceful side of rain in both of these. As you probably heard, we had a devastating flash flood in my town recently. I feel for those in Louisiana.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Laura! Yes, I know about your flooding too. What strange over the top weather we've had this year. We are so dry! The pictures from Louisiana are so terrible.
Delete