Amy Sell Poet Rhyme

After the Storm

I step outside after a stormy night and gaze upon
A mess of leaves, sticks, and branches disgracing my lawn

And the sight makes my back hurt before I even pick up the rake in an effort to consolidate the leaves and debris into piles
While I wonder if brown leaves could possibly become a landscape trend if I only waited a while. 

After some time, I bag the leaves and bind 
the branches into bundles with twine. 

Then I move on to the bottom of the backyard pool which is full leaves and pine tree needles, as well
And I recall how I once considered a backyard pool to be the apex of success and luxury in life, but now I find I’m second-guessing myself. 

The windows are open, their curtains rising lightly in the breeze, then lowering as the air’s breathing recedes
And all I hear is the wind passing through a hole in the hollow rod of my net
Its pitch rising and falling as I dip it into the depths and bring it back to the surface to empty it. 

The peace of it all puts me at ease, 
despite the work yet ahead of me

My back still hurts as I look over all the cleanup to be done
But I look up and see the clear blue sky through the leafless tree branches above
Then feel my wet neck and back being dried by the clean, rain-washed air and sun

And I can’t help but wish this beautiful day would last forever.

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Anne-Lise Andresen March 6, 2018 at 1:57 PM - In Norway, we have mostly rain all summer .... if,: we get a week of sunshine we are happy :) - hugs // Anne-Lise :) Anne-Lise Andresen March 7, 2018 at 2:28 PM - Norway is a beautiful country ... but cold and rainy :) Amy Sell March 6, 2018 at 7:57 PM That must be difficult to have gray and rainy skies for so long. Here in Florida, if you don't like the weather, you just have to wait a few minutes for it to change!

Tom Cunningham March 6, 2018 at 9:06 AM It certainly makes you look forward to those long hot summer days that will come. Amy Sell March 6, 2018 at 7:59 PM Yeah, the heat can be brutal, but I guess I'd take it over driving on ice and snow!

Kelli White March 6, 2018 at 8:59 AM I feel your pain Amy. Nature is so beautiful in all of its stages. Must we keep up with the Jones’s all the time? No say I. Impossible. Enjoy your view from every angle kelli Amy Sell March 6, 2018 at 8:01 PM Thanks, Kelli. Fortunately for me, the Jones's around me are pretty unconcerned about how the block looks. The guy across the street from me didn't take down his hurricane shutters until December!