It Might Rain Some

It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see. - Thoreau

sans water let alone power

in the familiar squeak of an antediluvian rocking chair

through the doddery old bread dough of senescent window putty

paint peeling like onion skin

violins quivering with an uneasy malaise

it's not about the bill but rather who pays

he could see the weeds growing around the clothesline where yesterday was hung out to dry

a game of war in his mind with a never ending, unshuffled deck of cards

fox holes, land mines, shrapnel, nocturnal air raids - the whole nine yards

vacant, ushering vesture blowing in a breeze of today held by the insecure pins of tomorrow

time begged

life stolen

garb of faith worn in the wake of sorrow

eternity borrowed

storm clouds threatening

what could have been

what might be

with hindsight it's easy to see

come what will come

regardless of where from

it's beginning to look as though

it might rain some

Author's Note

"A single gentle rain makes the grass many shades greener. So our prospects brighten on the influx of better thoughts. We should be blessed if we lived in the present always, and took advantage of every accident that befell us. A single gentle rain makes the grass many shades greener." - Thoreau

Reviews

[DIVYA]

I loved the dilapidated feel of the house and it's weeds. They complement the occupier of the house, who feels equally desolate with sorrowful memories threatening to rain on him anytime, all the time. He feels truly embattled within. Perhaps, has been a soldier, torn by wars. Still trying to hold on with all the faith in him. He has to because, reading the poem, I felt no one else cared.

I loved these lines, especially and much:

"vacant, ushering vesture blowing in a breeze of today held by the insecure pins of tomorrow"

~ The imagery is very strong and beautiful here.

The subtle rhyming was also so good to read and I loved it in the concluding lines.

The quote by Thoreau in the Authors Note is just awesome. Thank you for sharing.

[Pete]

you certainly have a keen eye for detail. you clearly felt the lonely, isolated mood. a storm, although unsettling when it approaches, can bring relief. thank you so much for sharing thoughts ... :)

[DIVYA]

It was such a pleasure Pete! :)

[Silmara McGarry]

Great picture going with this fantastic poem full of imaginary !!! Loneliness is felt but always comes hope with the rain! Exceptionally well written, I so much enjoyed from start to finish!!!
Thoreau was right: we should be blessed if we live in the present always 👏🏻Splendid Pete👏🏻
I hope all is well with you dear🌷

[Pete]

how much time we spend thinking about our lives, staring out of windows. storms usher winds of change. rain washes afresh. such a kind sharing of thoughts. thank you so much silmara ... :)

[Silmara McGarry]

Indeed!
You are most welcome dear 🌹

[Lydia Shutter]

Thoreau's quote was so perfect to complement your words, Pete. Your words create a mood here. An abandoned home...perhaps due to war in the area. But then again maybe a home your family lived in and now abandoned. Remembering what once was and will never be again. Into ever life a little rain must fall....I believe Longfellow wrote about that. We learn from adversity....if we are smart. Very well written poem, Pete. Lydi**

[Pete]

thank you. indeed we do lydi, indeed we do. it's called character and can only be built in adversity. there are only two ways to go at the fork in the road. my muse thoreau surely had it right ... :)

[Sami Khalil]

Yes siiiirrrrr
We need the rain, but who needs the pain of life. As guess we grow in leaps and bounds by calamities; at least some of us. We need the rain but some don't like to get wet. As the desert nomads how much necessity is rain.
You raise excellent points, sir Pete.
Wowzy!

[Pete]

spot-on observations. the brilliance of the umbrella - we can still get to where we need to without getting all wet whilst life's wells are replenished. should we not bear the bad for the benefit of a greater good ... :)

[Sami Khalil]

Wowzy woooo. Thank you. You are welcome sir

[Cyprian Van Dyke]

This is a well-written poem. The imagery was powerful with its detailed details. I like how you always use a quote too, which is always fitting. "A single gentle rain makes the grass many shades greener," nice. tyfs

[Pete]

thanks for the share cvd and for not being afraid to go below the surface ... :)

[Lisasview]

Oh yes, and I really like your image..
You might enjoy my poem, My Father or Awaken...

[Lisasview]

Hi Pete,
Many suffer with a constant conflict with themselves. Never having any reprieve.
I really enjoyed your use of metaphors..This challenges the reader to read beyond the words.
Lisa, typing with my left finger because I broke my clavicle...

[Pete]

hi lisa. thanks so much for sharing your valued thoughts on this piece. i'm so sorry to hear about your injury. how awful. praying for you to have a speedy recovery ... :)

[Lisasview]

You are most welcome... Soon I will be back to feeling normal...
Lisa

[Crowley]

A great quote and a lovely piece of writing. The nostalgic feel, the pinpoint description. I love the voice and the magical gate that you wrote this at. Fantastic!

[Pete]

thank you. glad you enjoyed it. your thoughts are appreciated. watch out for the rain ... :)

[John the Baptist]

The old and crumbling house seems to be a metaphor for the person being described in this one. He is a veteran, probably of WW2, who now lives, apparently alone and much of the time in his mind. He seems to have seen much fighting and its attendant horrors, and now these grim memories inhabit much of his attention. Though he survived it, verse 3 shows how deeply the war impacted him:"Life stolen." The last lines may indicate the threat of war continues to haunt all of us.

[Pete]

i like the assessment j. - doesn't even have to be an actual war, we all fight different battles in our minds and souls. at least when rain is squeezed from the clouds there is relief perhaps we need the same inside. forgiveness and acceptance can be hard roads to travel ... :)

[willweb]

Definitely one of my favorites of yours. I just like the way this feels, the texture and flow of the poem and then that final line...so very cool my friend. Bravo!

[Pete]

sorry ww. never acknowledged this review. thank you kindly ... :)