Tag: rain

After the rain

~ Maggie ~ 3 Comments

It’s been raining a lot this past week. That’s normal for this time of year and we’re very grateful for it. It’s what keeps this island from turning into a desert. It’s mostly real tropical showers: extremely heavy rain for a short period of time. Between showers it’s still warm and mostly sunny. I like that. The Netherlands (where I come from) is worse than Ireland. Gray skies and drizzling showers that last days.

The garden is thriving. I’m happy about that too, although I’m still doing damage control after being away for so long. Thorn bushes and neem were taking over and trees are crowding each other out. But that’s okay. We’ll get it under control someday. And meanwhile, I’m thoroughly enjoying having to spend so much time outside.

Unless it rains. But that’s okay too. It gives me an excuse to pause and sit and knit for a while. Until it gets dry again and I happily go into the garden to cut back another tree.

These rainy days

~ Maggie ~ 5 Comments

The cat is not amused and wants me to end it. My husband’s mood is more or less the same.

My philosophy is that it’s best to just take things as they come and I strive to find beauty in everything.
Today I couldn’t really find the words to express that beauty, but luckily there are some very talented ladies who have done that for me (I couldn’t chose just one poem – they both speak to me in different ways).

Last Night the Rain Spoke to Me by Mary Oliver
Last night
the rain
spoke to me
slowly, saying,
what joy
to come falling
out of the brisk cloud,
to be happy again
in a new way
on the earth!
That’s what it said
as it dropped,
smelling of iron,
and vanished
like a dream of the ocean
into the branches
and the grass below.
Then it was over.
The sky cleared.
I was standing
under a tree.
The tree was a tree
with happy leaves,
and I was myself,
and there were stars in the sky
that were also themselves
at the moment
at which moment
my right hand
was holding my left hand
which was holding the tree
which was filled with stars
and the soft rain –
imagine! imagine!
the long and wondrous journeys
still to be ours.

Summer Shower by Emily Dickinson
A Drop fell on the Apple Tree –
Another – on the Roof –
A Half a Dozen kissed the Eaves –
And made the Gables laugh –

A few went out to help the Brook,
That went to help the Sea –
Myself Conjectured were they Pearls –
What Necklaces could be –

The Dust replaced, in Hoisted Roads –
The Birds jocoser sung –
The Sunshine threw his Hat away –
The Bushes – spangles hung –

The Breezes brought dejected Lutes –
And bathed them in the Glee –
The Orient put out a single Flag,
And signed the Fete away –

(poems found here and here)