Logic would say today is gray
Tell me to move on
I take a second look, then a third
Subtle color variations appear
Lines of demarcation between
Heaven and Earth seem to ripple
within the rhythm of the wind
I keep looking until a tiny
semblance of light appears
from behind wispy layers
It doesn’t last long
Only a few seconds and a smile
Darkness covers the faded colors
Now, the sky is gray
Rain begins to fall
I smile again, grateful for those
subtle variations gracing
the morning sky-Preparing me
for the slow unfolding of today
Tag: rain
A Walk
Last week, I took a walk.
Everyone around me
was running.
In this instance, the results
would be the same.
I suppose that’s what
happens when you get
caught, unprepared,
in a rainstorm.
The thing is, I knew
the rain was approaching.
I knew there was no umbrella
hiding in my backseat.
And still, I chose to
ignore the warning.
Not always a wise choice,
but this time it was warranted.
Last week, I took a walk.
Drenched from head
to toe, I laughed.
My soul felt lighter.
Then the rain stopped.
Straight Ahead
It wasn’t supposed to rain.
But when I stepped outside,
raindrops landed on my head,
my face and my arms.
They dried almost as quickly as they fell.
Strange, no gray clouds in sight.
Looking straight ahead, while
turning a 360-degree radius,
there was a mix of
bright blue,
fluffy white,
and daylight.
Where was the gray?
Directly overhead.
I suddenly felt like a cartoon character.
You know the one.
Aimlessly lumbering across a happy scene,
accompanied by a single rain cloud.
It’s curious, today is clear and sunny.
And I miss the raindrops.
Whispering Blue
A little patch of pale blue
Whispered my name
After the storm.
Rain had fallen
So hard, the sky was
No longer visible.
I could barely see
The road in front of me.
My shoulders tensed.
My chest tightened.
My heart grew heavy.
As the storm passed,
My body relaxed, tired.
But the heaviness
In my heart remained.
Even the little patch of blue
Couldn’t lighten the weight.
But that’s okay.
That wasn’t its purpose.
The little patch of blue
Whispered my name to
Shift my gaze and remind me-
Look for the good.
Trust that the storm will pass.
Lingering Light
A heart-shaped cloud
Usually prompts a smile
But not that day-
That day, the cloud was gray-
A symbol of grief
A reflection of the hurt
Many suffer, often in silence-
The sky was silent, too
Unlike recent days of rain,
Thunder, and lightning-
As if now holding
Its breath while
The grieving heart
Cautiously passed by
Light remained-
Not bright, but soft and warm-
Like a lamp lit
In the corner of a room
Quietly lingering
Offering comfort
Holding space for healing
Simply Sunday
I didn’t write the following poem for Father’s Day. However, as I continued to read and edit, the themes of kindness and sharing kept reminding me of Dad. I am grateful for the example he set. Oh, how I miss him.
Second-Hand Rain
When long-standing trees
On two sides of a road
Meet in the middle
A canopy of peaceful shade
Calls travelers to pass underneath
On rainy days, water filters
Through the layers
Of branches and leaves-
They drink only what is needed
Before sharing what remains
Leftover droplets, somehow
Bigger than the originals,
Land on all who
Travel underneath
The welcoming canopy
Leaves wave and smile
Happy to share
What they received-
Understanding the rain
Was never theirs alone
Knowing the rainfall
Would only be able
To quench the most
Parched hearts
Once freely shared
Happy Father’s Day!
Polka Dots
A familiar sound
Caught my attention
Repetitive, but in no
Predictable pattern-
What is that?
Familiar, yet, a mystery-
I looked ahead
I looked behind
Still, the sound repeated in
Unmeasured Intervals-
Walking along the sidewalk
Looking down, I noticed
Large, gray polka dots randomly
Decorating the concrete –
Appearing and disappearing
Along with the sounds-
Suddenly, a cool splat
Touched my arm-
Raindrops! Big, fat Raindrops!
How is it possible?
Such a lengthy, lovely journey
Occurring in a matter of minutes
While taking a few steps
Along an ordinary sidewalk
Steady
The entire sky was white
A covering of wisdom
Over travelers below-
I can’t speak for others,
But I was hoping for sunshine-
Not a lesson
In patience
While driving to work
In the rain-
It wasn’t a heavy rain
Just steady, and I must admit,
Peaceful-
For a moment, I pictured
Myself happily walking
In the gentle rain-
The thought made me chuckle
Suddenly, I felt calm
Thankful for rainy lessons
Sent from the wisest of clouds
On a cool Spring morning-
Perhaps the Sun will shine tomorrow
Hold Tight
A rolling dark cloud
Greeted the day
Its growth visible
Second by second
Ominous, imparting a
Sense of dread and fear
On all who approached-
I felt it, too
A tightness in my chest
A furrow on my brow
But still, the day approached
And there was no place to hide-
A gentle tap tap on the window
Shifted my thoughts-raindrops-
As if to say, it will be ok
Yes, I hold heaviness today
But don’t be afraid –
Sometimes, tears have to flow
There’s no other way through
At least, not today-
It may seem darkness is growing
But the sun holds tight behind me
Waiting as the rain
Washes away my hurt
Preparing my heart to
Receive and reflect the light-
So, I wait for the sun
Will you wait with me?
Simply Sunday
Happily Lost
I’ve sensed rhythm
In the rain before
But this time was different-
The raindrops seemed
To create patterns of
Threes and fours
Triplets and sixteenths
Alternating, gently pulling
And pushing the tempo
Of the song playing
On the radio-
How was this possible?
I crinkled my forehead
As if a deeper focus might
Answer my question-
But then the patterns were gone
Whirled away with the wind
Leaving my mind to rest-
No matter-
For just a moment
I was happily lost
Between the rain and a song
Kelley Morris, piano
Piano Girl 