Poeming: How to learn to love the rain (even if you're not a huge fan.)



i call this one "sidewalk in front of Target." ;-)
 

HOW TO LEARN TO LOVE THE RAIN
(EVEN IF YOU’RE NOT A HUGE FAN.)


Don new raincoat, red

Hood up, open door

Walk outside, wet

feel chill on face, cold

Blink eyes against mist

hands in pockets deep

steps long to keep warm

(pray my toes to keep)

Taking breaths, rich

with autumnal loam

I lift my face to

the leaves in full poem

Extravagant hues

with names I don’t know

start pushing blood through

this heart no more cold.

Returning now home

with thanks in my chest

I smile at my God

“You say things the best.”


My fingers wrap ‘round

a steaming hot cup

I stare at my tree

watch as the rain drops

The poplar leaves dip

and shake like a bird

at each tiny drip

as rain showers through.

I see You now, God

even in rain

and hope that my soul

is never the same.

 
jle 2012



This poem was written for the Poetic Asides Poem A Day November Challenge, the prompt being to use "How to____(fill in the blank.)"

Now, i realize i am a simple poet, or rather i write simple poems. But humor me, read them anyway, then nod wisely.

Those sturdy English.

i arrived today in England.

It just so happened to be the day they're celebrating Guy Fawkes day and Bonfire night. Having been told "layers, think lots of layers," i put on 2 shirts and a sweatshirt under my coat, and 2 pairs of socks under my new warm boots. i topped the whole ensemble with my recently purchased scarf, gloves, and cute hat. If not prepared, i was at least adorable.

We drove tthe 3 kids to a friend's house to park, then several families set off in the pitch black muddy evening for the field where the celebration would take place. i was handed an umbrella and fell into step behind numerous strollers with babies and rain baggies over them, and countless more small school children in wellies (rubber boots) and raincoats. The cloud of well covered adults and children moved off in a large gnat-like cloud to the field. The cloud grew larger as excited children and parents gravitated toward the rope separating us from the huge bonfire in the middle of the field.

Did i mention the whole "pitch black" thing? Here were families upon families, chatting and playing and standing bundled in the freezing rain like they were having a tea party. In the darkness, everyone looked the same to me--tall and short dark bodies with vaguely seen faces above, cheerfully saying "hello" to me as i was introduced.

Normal, it was all perfectly normal to these sturdy English. Rain, blowing like ice needles into your face? Normal. Slogging along a country road through muddy piles of leaves in the pitch black? Normal. Fireworks in the rain? All normal. Me? i kept wrapping and wrapping my scarf around my neck and wishing for a third pair of socks under my new boots.

i looked around at the crowd and asked Jon, my son-in-law, "how many people do you think are here?" He said, "Oh, probably a hundred, hundred-fifty." He laughed and said, "You'd probably have a thousand!" (i do after all, live in a populated area in California.) i said, "Oh no-we would have totally called it on account of rain!"

A good time was had by all, and on the bright side, i think i will only lose the one toe to frostbite.

Here's a fun link to explain the Guy Fawkes celebration.

i'll wait for daylight to get photos of the grandBrits to post.