The Legend of Rain: a Love Story

(this is a type of quatrain called Swap Quatrain,
wherein the fourth line of each stanza
is actually the first line, just swapped around)

Another Time, long long ago,
there was no Rain; there was no Snow.
No reason was there, and no rhyme
long long ago, another Time.

A desert only, lifeless land -
boulders, pebbles, grains of sand;
hot and windswept, barren, lonely
lifeless land; a desert only.

From Sky was tossed one day, a seed
onto this land so much in need,
whose dreariness would soon be lost.
One day a seed from Sky was tossed.

In Sun’s bright heat, the small seed grew
until an egg it changed into.
It needed only moisture sweet.
The small seed grew in Sun’s bright heat. 

Sky clapped loud sound; a bird appeared.
The egg was pulsing as she neared.
White feathers fluttered to the ground.
A bird appeared; Sky clapped loud sound.

As Rain came down. . . A sudden change!
The bird turned into something strange -
A lovely girl with feathered gown!
A sudden change as Rain came down.

With Rain’s soft fall, the egg had burst.
Emerging from the egg came first
One horse, then two.  Fantastical!
The egg had burst with Rain’s soft fall.

The horses grew beneath big Sun.
They thrived; with Rain they were as one.
Along with her, like Wind, they’d run.
Beneath  big Sun, the horses grew.

Twin beasts and Rain, that dry land’s three
became a new world’s trinity.
And with them, green and springtime came.
That dry land’s three: twin beasts and Rain.

With so much spring, with Rain’s pure grace
came poetry into that place.
Bright flowers bloomed when she would sing
with Rain’s pure grace, with so much spring.

Variety, the needful thing,
Rain prayed out loud for Sky to bring.
And so was born for her to see:
the needful thing, Variety!

Then came down Snow from up above.
This counterpart was Rain’s true love.
When white Snow ebbed, sweet Rain would flow.
From up above, then came down Snow.

Sweet Rain, white Snow, atop each horse,
still ride the land and set the course
of when their seasons come and go.
Atop each horse, sweet Rain, white Snow.

By Andrea Dietrich

Inspired by A Rambling Poet's Contest:
"Rain: the Story"
Copyright © | Year Posted 2010

Poem

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12
May Avatar
July 25, 2017 at 9:33 PM
A beautiful and enchanting write Andrea, ... Hugs
Haick Avatar
January 16, 2011 at 7:43 PM
Congratulations on your super win in the contest, Andrea. Wonderful work! Love, Annalise
Brown Avatar
January 14, 2011 at 9:17 AM
Congratulations Andrea on your win in A Rambling Poet's contest "Rain,The Story". Love, Carol
Haick Avatar
January 13, 2011 at 12:49 PM
Congratulations on your fantastic win in Constance's contest, Andrea! Thanks for the kind comments! Love, Annalise
Devonshire Avatar
January 13, 2011 at 11:33 AM
Hey, the "swap quatrain" concept is new to me, Andrea, and I like the way you presented this lovely story. Congratulations! Carolyn
Johnson Avatar
January 13, 2011 at 9:51 AM
Very imaginative and beautifully presented. Well worth top honors. love, Joyce
Richards Avatar
January 13, 2011 at 8:34 AM
A beautiful poem, Andrea...and you made it even more difficult using this difficult form !! Well done!!
Mehta Avatar
January 13, 2011 at 6:29 AM
Congratulations on the third place win in the contest of Constance, Andrea
Gorelick Avatar
January 13, 2011 at 4:47 AM
Nice going Andrea..I love the idea of the "swap" quatrain...congrats. BG
Onclaud Avatar
January 13, 2011 at 3:15 AM
well woven sory that truly hypnotizes, andrea.. cheers for the happy win in this contest! :) nette
Mehta Avatar
January 12, 2011 at 8:59 PM
Many Congrats Andrea on big win with this creative verse.Best wishes/Luv - Hitendra Mehta
Sweetheart Avatar
January 12, 2011 at 8:21 PM
Congrats Andrea on your wonderful win in the Rain Story contest with this exquisite entry my friend.. a well deserved top spot my friend with luv..
Mannan Avatar
January 12, 2011 at 7:59 PM
An amazing write Andrea. Lots of congratulations for this win.
Pettit Avatar
January 5, 2011 at 8:05 AM
Andrea, it looks as if you have a winner here. Here, a winner it looks you have Andrea.
Milgate Avatar
December 31, 2010 at 4:58 PM
Very pretty, well done, put this in a book? I can see the illustrations. I admire how you rhyme so well, without a hint of any stretching for a word. So natural.
Chachere Avatar
December 31, 2010 at 4:37 PM
it seems that anew would begin when new things are discovered in nature itself. this girl must have been beautiful with her feathered gown. i love rain, who doesn't..it cleanses the soul(: ~Always&Forever Lynette
Anish Avatar
December 30, 2010 at 9:31 PM
I especially like the last line. "Apples of the Sun" is borrowed from a poem by Yeats. Yours in Verse Matthew Anish
Anish Avatar
December 30, 2010 at 9:31 PM
I especially like the last line. "Apples of the Sun" is borrowed from a poem by Yeats. Yours in Verse Matthew Anish
Horsman Avatar
December 29, 2010 at 12:20 AM
Wow this is so sophisticated Andrea, just love it, love the form also. Harry
Smalling Avatar
December 28, 2010 at 2:22 PM
Not only a love story,but a new mythology seeding here. Good write.
Onclaud Avatar
December 28, 2010 at 7:54 AM
very "heavenly" beautiful, andrea!enough said... bwst winning wishes in paula's contest.. whoooT!:) hugggs, nette
Goff Avatar
December 28, 2010 at 6:44 AM
Pure beauty! Andrea! jimbo
Wilkins Avatar
December 28, 2010 at 6:29 AM
This is brilliant, I loved it! especially the third stanza "A desert only, lifeless land - boulders, pebbles, grains of sand; hot and windswept, barren, lonely lifeless land; a desert only." something about it was so powerful! I look forward to reading more of your work! Thank you for your comment on floating Crystal ~x~
Poet Avatar
December 28, 2010 at 5:59 AM
Excellent story of Rain you have penned Andrea.Liked it .
Gorelick Avatar
December 28, 2010 at 5:46 AM
What a story...just way to cool...now where did you say you were keeping all your trophies and awards? lol...love, BG
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