Washed Away

I haven’t heard rain like that in a long time
Rain preceded only by strong winds-
No sprinkles
No light showers
A horizontal wall of water
Falling with a thunderous Woosh!
So loud and powerful
It would surely wash me away-
But I’m still here
Lying still-listening
As it pours harder and harder
Grows louder and louder
And I begin to wonder
If it will ever stop-
Not in a sense of despair
Instead, wondering how long
It will take to wash away
The mounting layers
Of arrogance and hate
So eyes and hearts will
Once again, be open to the truth
Of loving our neighbors as ourselves

Smiling Blue

A patch of baby blue
Cheerfully smiled, Good morning
A welcomed greeting
Following recent gray
Heavy-mist days-
Even the sun
Attempted a greeting
But its rays produced only
A white glow behind
The lingering clouds-
An overcast day lay ahead
But one glance in the rearview
And there was that smiling
Patch of baby blue-
Reminded me of you
Your brief smile in passing
Always a welcomed sight
Remains close by-
Whether the day is long
Whether the day is gloomy
Whether I’m simply wishing
For more time with you

Evidence

I’ve held my tears close
Hesitantly accepting
The sun’s warmth
On my face
But the disappointment
And questions with no answers
Will no longer be ignored
Cascading down with today’s rain
I suppose this is where faith steps in
It is, after all, believing
In what I can’t see-
A simple definition, yes
Sometimes those are
The ones to hold close
And I must believe
Love continues to reside
Even in places where evidence
Is not clearly evident-
And if it is lost, to think it can
Once again, be found
It may begin with simple words
I hear you.
I love you.
I see you.
I am sorry.

But its survival requires
Much more than words-
Please don’t give me opinions
Or long-held beliefs
Both are easily skewed
By outward influences
Where truth and lies
Are purposefully blurred
Instead, close your eyes
Open your heart
Focus on the sound
Of your heartbeat
Helping it to grow
More in sync with mine
As we breathe
As we silently pray
Knowing I am afraid, too

Dampened Cheek

Rain continues to fall
While the wind rests
My racing thoughts
And rapid pulse
Gratefully embrace
A moment of calm-
The saturated ground
Swells, painfully aware
Of its limited capacity
Struggling as the rain
Completely unaware
Continues to fall
Like a continuous stream
Of tears rolling down
An already dampened cheek
Unsure of their destination-
Will the tears be brushed
Away by hands, dry and cracked
From denial and indifference
Or allowed to freely flow
Softening hearts
As the rain softened the ground

Smiling Blue

A lovely patch of blue
Smiles from behind
Stormy gray swirls–
Its presence like that
Of a trusted friend
Their hand resting
On my shoulder
Offering calm assurance
And a wise reminder-


There are always storms
Out in front, left behind,
Or directly overhead –
But the rain travels
From head to heart
Washing away stormy grays
To reveal the lovely
Patch of blue
Residing inside of you

Lessons From Raindrops



A few clung tightly
To green tree leaves
Even after most of
The others had fallen-
Falling was the
Ultimate goal
Surrendering
To the ground
Patiently waiting below-
Their landing providing
Refreshing
Nourishment
The power to change
An entire landscape-
Why would some choose to hang on?
Perhaps fear
Of the unknown
Perhaps love
To fall with
A gentle touch
Teaching this passing traveler
A valuable lesson-
Though alone for a moment
Surrounded by many for a lifetime

Simply Sunday

Things to Notice When the Power is Out

The steady rhythm
Of rain falling outside
Interrupted only by
Contented purring of the cat -happy
To be your only
Distraction-
The way my eyes
Notice and adjust to
The light sneaking in
Through glass windows
And doors -
An appreciation for
A simple cup of hot tea
After patiently waiting
For water to boil
On the gas stove–
The quiet peacefulness
Possible when the
Outside world is
Temporarily blocked -

About the Sky


It’s a curious thing
Raindrops so huge
They land with a splat!
On my windshield
While across the sky
The sun fights its way
Through dark clouds
There must be a rainbow close by
Natural progressions
Able to awaken
A belly full of emotions
Welling up through
My lungs, exiting
With each breath
Pulling me
Into the day
While a song
About the sky
Plays quietly
In the background
Another sky photo from my Mom. 🤍💙

The Peace of Rain


When clouds appear soft
Their colors muted
Blending one with another
Covering the sky
With a grace-filled blanket
Evenly sharing their weight
Allowing for a healing release
Of raindrops so gentle
You barely notice them-
We forgot our umbrella
Should we go back?

Let’s follow the raindrops
Into this unexpected reprieve
From the busyness of life

Painting the Day

I watched
And listened
Curious
As they fell
Both individually
And collectively
Creating patterns
For eyes and ears
To interpret
And hearts
To contemplate
Providing
Sweet relief
For scorched
Nooks and corners
Aching for relief
Grateful recipients
Ready to flourish
Alongside
Spring flowers
Sharing space
In the day’s landscape-

I don’t think I’ve ever seen
Such pretty raindrops!