The Rain Barrel

Hard times like wine on the skin,
some blush between the discarded inhibitions.
Verdant memories soaking in slowly,
like ancient intercontinental trade routes;
the silent contents growing louder with history,
as too the benefits.

On sunny days, while grace shines upon us,
the vessel looks out of place.
Less than useless, an abuse of the time we have,
to remind us of the times we hate.
It aches in the light, becoming brittle planks,
on which our eyes will walk briefly,
and plunge into the depths of the day,
escape or drown, it’s all the same.

But on those rainy days they come to collect
all our troubles overflowing,
and they tell stories only the rain can hear;
thunderous applause after each quiet punchline.

It is dangerous to consume what the sky gives us,
for it may return our own gifts.

Sunny Skies

The sky burns
while my broken parts yearn
for a downpour I’ve earned
and continue to earn, again and again.

The seasons move to music
that my ears refuse to hear
open only, expectantly, for the sound
of that great rain coming down.

The sky burns
while my broken heart yearns
mangled in ways difficult to discern.
The pieces that would not – should not fit
forced into compliance.

I need the sky to break as have I
to shatter
crashing down upon the space I occupy
until all the pleasantness is nullified
and I again can feel at home;

That place beneath the rain
where broken things are fed to grow.

Thick Gray Clouds Crying

Not for caution

              the rain

   like water toiling away
          at the bottom of a black pot

heavy with industry

             an entire era of invention
          crashing to the earth

          burning away the weeds
                with acid and ash

taking everything else with it

           while we dance and sing,

                         make love

until at last we drift away into sadness.
                        again.

               that rain…

                               even on sunny days

                  is always seeping deeper beneath the surface.