They say “April showers bring May flowers” and that is certainly true. This year, however, April didn’t bring much in the way of rain and now that it is May, we are getting lots of stormy weather. I love a good rain shower every now and again, particularly if there is lots of thunder and lightning.
A few nights ago we were regaled with a good ‘ol thunderstorm. They are not that common in our neck of the woods (east of the Hudson River, north of New York City). Growing up in New Jersey I loved the booming cloudbursts that often rolled in during the early evening hours. Sitting in bed by my window, I would count the seconds between the flash of light and the loud boom to see how close the lighting was. I found the rumble comforting (and still do).
While we lived in New York City, we could actually see the thunderstorms across the river in New Jersey, but much to my disappointment, they never got very close to us. So I welcome the recent magical lightning shows along with rain and hope to see them again soon—and our garden likes them too.
Last Night the Rain Spoke to Me
By Mary Oliver
Last night
the rain
spoke to me
slowly, saying,
what joy
to come falling
out of the brisk cloud,
to be happy again
in a new way
on the earth!
That’s what it said
as it dropped,
smelling of iron,
and vanished
like a dream of the ocean
into the branches
and the grass below.
Then it was over.
The sky cleared.
I was standing
under a tree.
The tree was a tree
with happy leaves,
and I was myself,
and there were stars in the sky
that were also themselves
at the moment
at which moment
my right hand
was holding my left hand
which was holding the tree
which was filled with stars
and the soft rain –
imagine! imagine!
the long and wondrous journeys
still to be ours.
XOXO Rachel
Wondrance 