Notes About The Poem

6/28/2024 for Raindrops 2 Poetry Contest sponsored by Jcb Brul

It Sometimes Rains in Southern California

As a kid in Southern California
I loved rainy days.
However much it rained,
I wanted it to rain more.
Mom had us buckle up our rain boots to go to school - 
And put on our hooded yellow raincoats.
Mrs. Stillman, our second grade teacher, made popcorn on rainy days. 
On the way home, 
Gutters became rivers.
Leaves became boats.
Small lakes formed in the backyard.
Sometimes, rarely, we enjoyed thunder and lightning.
How fun it was to get soaked,
And then to come in, shower, and put on dry clothes,
And watch the rain through the window.
On the day after, the sidewalks were littered with worms,
But there was no smog, and, suddenly, the San Gabriel mountains appeared.
Rain was a rare treat
For a kid in Southern California.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2024

Poem

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Alex Avatar
July 14, 2024 at 10:29 PM
"Gutters became rivers. Leaves became boats." Wonderful memories. Congratulations!
Crandall Avatar
July 15, 2024 at 9:56 AM
Thank you Christuraj! Here where the weather is mild, I remember we kids used to get excited by anything different like really windy days, too!
mysore Avatar
July 14, 2024 at 9:27 PM
'leaves became boats' 'fun to get soaked' very interesting write dear poet, a different picture indeed. congratulations, happy writing.
Crandall Avatar
July 15, 2024 at 9:54 AM
Thanks Thriveni!
Narain Avatar
July 14, 2024 at 10:24 AM
Lovely poem. In 70s, it rarely rained in southern California. Pretty nostalgic for me. Congrats on win.
Crandall Avatar
July 14, 2024 at 10:38 AM
Thanks Jay - did you live in SoCal?
Woods Avatar
July 14, 2024 at 9:39 AM
Oh I enjoyed this very much David! I loved hearing your voice in the remembrance of how you experienced the rain. A teacher can leave a lasting memory like this can't they? And your line about worms was so real, I'd almost forgotten! Wonderful as usual! Xo
Crandall Avatar
July 14, 2024 at 10:15 AM
It's nice to hear you liked it, Crystol! I wrote another poem about those worms. It's called "Worms" - lol.
Radice Avatar
July 8, 2024 at 12:04 AM
This is a lovely atmospheric write David. There is something so "poetically magical" about rain isn't there? "Leaves became boats" is a great line. It's the poet in you capturing your memories as a child and your imagination. The fact that rain was a treat hints at the hot weather you had most of the time. I forever remember the petrichor of rain as a child. Cheers - Gary
Woods Avatar
July 14, 2024 at 9:40 AM
Ooogreat word! My vocabulary for the day!
Crandall Avatar
July 8, 2024 at 9:35 AM
Thanks Gary. Haha, just had to look up petrichor, and yes, I can remember it too!
Greenhough Avatar
June 29, 2024 at 6:57 PM
You must be a duck. Kidding aside, rain is wonderful. Enjoy the rain and all that grows when it does.
Crandall Avatar
June 30, 2024 at 8:31 AM
haha, that reminds me of the song, "if the ocean was whiskey and I was a duck, I'd swim to the bottom, and never come up"!
Jones Avatar
June 29, 2024 at 12:34 AM
Enjoyed your poem it was very interesting
Crandall Avatar
June 29, 2024 at 8:27 AM
Glad you enjoyed it Karen. I'm not used to free verse. I'm pretty fortunate to live in SoCal weather, but anything different - like rain - is fun.
Theraven Avatar
June 28, 2024 at 9:22 PM
David, The Southern California rains. A blessing arisen from a curse. Promise of the desert, some say all too well rehearsed. -Richard
Crandall Avatar
June 28, 2024 at 9:57 PM
Thanks for stopping by Richard, your comment is more of a poem than my poem - lol, but it's true, SoCal rain is a rare blessing.
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