After the Rain

Trees -

leaves adorned with raindrop jewels,

heaving under the weight of water,

bending low toward the rich, wet dirt,

they wait defiantly  for the wind

to free them of their burden,

so they may once again reach

toward the misty-gray heaven

speckled with starlight

and brushed with onyx.

 

Flowers -

with their open faces, they

breathe in the richness of the rain,

suck in the moisture and stretch

gleefully toward the moonlight that is peeking

from behind the receding clouds,

shining praise upon bright purple,

red, burnt orange and yellow,

children of the Earth, they sing

silent songs of triumph.

 

The bird -

she emerges from her stick built nest,

first her head, testing the air,

she hops onto the tree branch,

gripping water soaked wood, she

shakes her feathers, looks back once

toward her safe home - her young -

she spreads her wings and dares to fly

through the moist morning air,

survival her motive.

 

I -

stand before my kitchen window,

cold even though the air around me is warm,

chilled from the thought of being outside.

Two stories below, the world is sodden - soaking -

the dripping trees, the flowers, the birds

shivering in the damp air, I watch them,

see how they react to the opening of the skies,

wonder at their resilience and

their fragile strength.

Reviews

[Christopher Miller]

I am left wondering why you would be chilled at the thought of going outside. Just because after the rain is probably my favorite time to be outside, mostly because of all the reasons you imaged so well in the rest of the poem. I love that reemergence, I love being a part of it.

[Ara Mosby]

For me, this was written with the intent to evoke an internal struggle...the strength of nature vs. the lack of strength that we all feel as human beings sometimes. The idea of being "chilled" even when the air around you is warm was meant to evoke that sensation. I appreciate your words and your reading :) By the way, I do love going outside after it's rained... :)

[Einstein Noodle]

great closing!! i was wondering where you would bring me ;) i like the divisions by subtitles ..especially enjoyed reading about the trees ..they do bend so heavily laden at times and i think they might get hurt by the weight (silly i know) and the bird ..shakes it off and continues bird life ... the stark contrast of the city outside that i conjured is grey cold and empty ... and i prison myself inside .. afraid to get wet ;} enjoyed reading very much ..
E.

[Ara Mosby]

Many thanks!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i love the allegorical nature of this.

we all face that rain---and then we wait to reach towards the sun once again...we all have to constantly bounce back from the pitfalls of life, the heartbreak that tries to close our petals...

[Coyote Poetry]

It is amazing how nature worked.
" I watch them,
see how they react to the opening of the skies,
wonder at their resilience and
their fragile strength."
If we could become like nature. We could stand the rain of life upon us. Thank you for sharing the excellent poetry.
Coyote