Rain

RAIN Five years ago the land was fat With prairie grass, tall and abundant, Moving like waves on the sea when the wind touched its bounty. And then the clouds went barren. As green turned to brown, And swaying stems bent and curled and died, Even the windmill joined the conspiracy As though to mock the hangers-on, Refusing to bring hope from diminishing underground stores. The herd had to go for what the hammer would bring, And the one who had promised for better or worse Left to look for greener pastures. Texas can steal a man’s soul. But you, Jack Cody, have resisted that devil, And clover will grace your land again. You have no need to speak of petrichor, But you know it well, because The heavens have opened their storehouse. The river is rising, the earth has drunk her fill, And the smell of healing fills the air As wonderful, beautiful, refreshing, replenishing rain rolls across the plain. June 6, 2016