Hillside to Hillside

"I hope it rains

on the day that I die."

I didn't want to think about it

So I didn't reply.

The years passed on

And he ended his life

With a gun in his hand

And an unheard cry

I held him in my arms

As he breathed his last breath

He had ended his life

And left with one request

The rain came down

as God opened the sky

And the whole valley flooded

Hillside to hillside

The peace he had found in the rain

Only brought me pain

As I cried on the day

that he crumbled away

Author's Note

My dad told me that as he was working in the garage with his dad, the rain began to pound on the roof. My grandfather stopped, placing his hands on his hips and looking out at the rain pounding against the ground in a loud roar.
"I love the sound of the rain," he had remarked. "I hope it rains on the day that I die."
The day that my grandfather committed suicide was the first time that our humble West Virginia holler flooded hillside to hillside.

Reviews

[Gray]

My eyes lit up at the end of your author's note. This is a very moving poem.

[Rachel]

This is such a painfully beautiful poem. It must have meant so much for you to write it. Thank you so much for sharing this. Your writing is wonderful.

[Faith Williamson]

Thank you very much. It means a lot to me.