What a beautiful Pentecost poem! I love the contrast in the opening lines between the dramatic wind, flames, dove, voices on the one hand and the ordinary grayness, softness, silence, smallness. It's kind of like Elijah's still small voice, but also reminds me of the Spirt coming "like the dewfall".
I love the effect of all the un- words: unseen, unsudden, unstopping, unsung, unsuddenly, unsudden... there's such a softness and restraint to them.
"ordinary and everywhere" is a delicious phrase and so is "ticking motes of clarity".
"whispering small wet love words to hard-packed earth
until it softens, charmed, and breathing out
its perfume like a sigh, surrenders to slow soaking,
drop by unending drop"
the delicate love-making between the rain and the earth!
and this: "a thousand scattered mirrors
doubling creation’s love and praises, over and over"
That's such a startling way to think about the reflective quality of water in puddles and drops.
This poem is as refreshing as a soft sudden shower.
"...raise jeweled leaves to the sky in unsung hallelujahs." Beautiful poetry there. I think the spirit does come in a number of ways and you put this one quite wonderfully. Awesome post. Thank you for sharing.
Rain! I don't ascribe to the teachings of the Zodiac, or at least don't know enough to do so, but I know that I am supposed to be a water sign, know that I have little tolerance for heat, know that when the misty haze rolled in for an uncharacteristic June evening here today I thought, "I could live in Ireland."
Water sustains us, and for the gardener, it is everything. I heard a farmer say recently that she can water her crops, but it's the rain that makes them grow!
I've noticed the same thing for the few outdoor plants I help to tend: they're politely grateful for a drink from the watering can, but it's rainfall that really brings them to life.
WONDERFUL, what it is to feel this deeply. i've woken to rain here in Cornwall, UK, this morning, 4.30 am, silent soft rain. Every line is breathtaking. I read it twice. The first time with the other way the spirit comes in mind - I'd focused on that and had not taken in the title with the word rain. So I enjoyed it twice in different ways. First time thinking of spirits (because I'm suspended in grief for my son, always on the look out for spirits) and then the second time thinking of rain. Love love love Tear tracks through the world's sad dust - and how it is unsudden. That's a word I am going to use. And I loved surrender to slow soaking. Rain will never be the same again, Thank you
Thank you so much for such an attentive and appreciative reading, Jessica, and for letting me know the ways the poem touched you. Holding you and your son in my heart. 💛🌿🌦️
This poem lives and breathes, full of spirit indeed 🍃💚
Thanks so much, Caroline!
What a beautiful Pentecost poem! I love the contrast in the opening lines between the dramatic wind, flames, dove, voices on the one hand and the ordinary grayness, softness, silence, smallness. It's kind of like Elijah's still small voice, but also reminds me of the Spirt coming "like the dewfall".
I love the effect of all the un- words: unseen, unsudden, unstopping, unsung, unsuddenly, unsudden... there's such a softness and restraint to them.
"ordinary and everywhere" is a delicious phrase and so is "ticking motes of clarity".
"whispering small wet love words to hard-packed earth
until it softens, charmed, and breathing out
its perfume like a sigh, surrenders to slow soaking,
drop by unending drop"
the delicate love-making between the rain and the earth!
and this: "a thousand scattered mirrors
doubling creation’s love and praises, over and over"
That's such a startling way to think about the reflective quality of water in puddles and drops.
This poem is as refreshing as a soft sudden shower.
Thank you for such a careful, attentive reading, Melanie. <3
Beautiful, Elizabeth.
Thank you, Margaret Ann. <3
"...raise jeweled leaves to the sky in unsung hallelujahs." Beautiful poetry there. I think the spirit does come in a number of ways and you put this one quite wonderfully. Awesome post. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks so much for reading and commenting, Parker.
Rain! I don't ascribe to the teachings of the Zodiac, or at least don't know enough to do so, but I know that I am supposed to be a water sign, know that I have little tolerance for heat, know that when the misty haze rolled in for an uncharacteristic June evening here today I thought, "I could live in Ireland."
Water sustains us, and for the gardener, it is everything. I heard a farmer say recently that she can water her crops, but it's the rain that makes them grow!
Beautifully written, Elizabeth
I've noticed the same thing for the few outdoor plants I help to tend: they're politely grateful for a drink from the watering can, but it's rainfall that really brings them to life.
Thanks so much for reading, Elizabeth!
lovely!
So glad you enjoyed it, Francesca -- thank you for letting me know.
This is so beautiful, Elizabeth!
Thank you, Fotini!
WONDERFUL, what it is to feel this deeply. i've woken to rain here in Cornwall, UK, this morning, 4.30 am, silent soft rain. Every line is breathtaking. I read it twice. The first time with the other way the spirit comes in mind - I'd focused on that and had not taken in the title with the word rain. So I enjoyed it twice in different ways. First time thinking of spirits (because I'm suspended in grief for my son, always on the look out for spirits) and then the second time thinking of rain. Love love love Tear tracks through the world's sad dust - and how it is unsudden. That's a word I am going to use. And I loved surrender to slow soaking. Rain will never be the same again, Thank you
Thank you so much for such an attentive and appreciative reading, Jessica, and for letting me know the ways the poem touched you. Holding you and your son in my heart. 💛🌿🌦️
Loved this on so many levels! Beautiful
I'm so glad, Catherine! Thank you for reading.
Your poem pairs well with Hopkins's "God's Grandeur."
Oh my, that's high praise that I'll aspire to earn! Thank you, Donald.
Truly charmed by your observation and putting it so lovingly into the words it deserves.
Thanks so much, Sandy!
It's the small ordinary moments somehow becoming extraordinary that make feel connected. This captures those moments so beautifully.
Those are the moments poets live for! (*My* poets, anyway.) Thanks for reading, LeeAnn.
So many good lines but this: moist perfume of earth
in love
Boom! Loved it!
One of the most miraculous scents in the world! Thanks for reading, Simon.
Such beautiful images in this one.
Thank you so much, MK.
truly lovely. -- I like all the esssssssss sounds
All those tiny raindrops whisssspering....! Thanks so much for reading and commenting, Margaret.
I like the image... fits with baptism, and life giving. Thank you!
So glad you liked it -- thank you for reading, dear one. 🌼