Summer noon, blistering heat,
tortuous sun hurting eyes, scorching skin
shirt wet with sweat, tongue dry as leather
I walked dragging feet on melting road,
drained, exhausted, near swooning
There came a furious duststorm
gusts of muddy air with litter swirling
bent trees and halted vehicles
sent birds and dogs scurrying for cover
suddenly clouds gathered, then deepened
the dust was gone, cool breeze soothed the skin
it turned near dark, then drops began to fall
few and soft at first, vanishing in the dust
then it drizzled, raising dry mud's special scent
washing air, bathing trees and buildings
briefly birds and dogs had their fun
I too intended to be drenched.
Then it poured, and poured still more
heavy drops, denser than any army could descend
hissing and roaring, their fury unstoppable
making streams of roads, water gushing everywhere.
fully drenched and near shivering, I hid
beneath a shed when hail began to hit
From safe position I watched marbles of ice
gather in white sheets over pavement
and remembered the blazing sun of short while ago.
This thing I have never understood
Why with the rain her presence comes
Back to childhood I go, in the park that day
We were on a swing, me sitting, she standing astride
pushing the swing and shrieks to go higher
her skirt weaving wondrous magic around my face
while it drizzled.
