Elle Meadow Poet Free verse

African Rain

The earth exudes a scent indescribable
tall grass seared by the unforgiving sun
heat devils dance lazily in the distance
bright sky, harsh sun, and heat
oh the heat of Africa
it beats down like an anvil
every living thing seeks shade
a shadow of shade floats by
a fleeting coolness, a faint smell
familiar, teasing, tantalizing
RAIN
it starts abruptly, slowly
fat lazy drops plop almost lethargically
into the dry dust 
leaving round pock-marks in the ground
a reverent silence falls
as the bush awaits the rain
a staccato of drops
drum down in fevered rhythm
cool familiar sounds
Gaia sighs her feminine release
as the hard rain falls
then stops.

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Keith Osborne May 11, 2017 at 6:22 PM Nice. The only thing I struggle with is how something can start suddenly/unexpectedly yet slowly/lethargically. Seems contradictory. Keith Osborne May 12, 2017 at 3:03 AM Sounds more like anticipation, not abruptness. Elle Meadow May 11, 2017 at 11:04 PM You haven't experienced the rain in Africa - it really does both at the same time. You know it's coming, you can feel it, smell it. see it, but at the same time suddenly it's there. And it starts with these huge fat drops that plop here and there, seemingly slow, then accelerate pace until it is drumming down hard and it stops just as abruptly as it started.

James Marshall Goff May 9, 2017 at 8:50 AM Soothing, melodic phrasing, Elle...very much enjoyed! personifying the mating of earth & sky with Gaia reference...sweet! Elle Meadow May 10, 2017 at 1:13 AM Thank you very much for your encouraging words. Appreciated.