Strange Meteorological Phenomena

 

Strange Meteorological Phenomena

June 4 2021

 

Hail hammering the roof.

Storm drains

erupting in water spouts.

Roads washed out.

 

Raining cats and dogs, they say

for reasons no one can explain.

Natural enemies brawling?

Frightened pets

running for cover?

Or a warm fluffy downpour

of man's best friend?

 

But while this is metaphor

and felines have never rained down

frogs have fallen from the sky.

Fat green croakers

bouncing off the pavement

pinging into cars,

tadpoles

turning everything

into slick brown slime.

 

Even fish,

wet and glistening

flopping listlessly

on sopping ground.

 

Today, a welcome rain.

No need

for exaggerated metaphors

or strange phenomena.

Water from the sky

for parched soil

and thirsty plants.

 

We went outside

and open-mouthed

turned to face the clouds,

clothes drenched

hair plastered down.

The ecstatic relief

of a cool rain

after countless hot dry days

and sun-backed ground.

 

 It's been a dry spring, with unseasonable heat. But as I write, a big thunderstorm is bringing a welcome rain.

Coincidentally, in the latest episode of a podcast about words that I regularly listen to (Merriam-Webster's Word Matters), they explored the origin of the phrase “raining cats and dogs.” (Spoiler alert:  no one knows!) So I thought that would make a nice hook with which to begin a poem about a downpour.

Too many people think poems are serious business, and allow themselves to be intimidated by them. So it's nice to show that writing a poem can be pure fun.