Sweet, Sweet Rain!
All is quiet and still
on the dry Texas plain.
Life patiently waits
for the sweet, sweet rain.
The hot summer sun
has browned all the stalks
and the grass becomes coated
with windblown chalks.
Its been two years
since the last taste of rain
and the prairie wonders
if it will come again.
Though the occasional cloud
has blunted the drought,
the awaited rain's not fallen
and the prairie's done without.
As the torrid summer wears on
with no end in sight,
a storm cloud builds up
. . . as if overnight.
A fresh breeze caresses the grass -
trembling with trust -
rustling the stems and
carrying away all the dust.
As the sun slips behind
the sheltering cloud,
gentle thunder rumbles,
the prairie's heart beats loud.
. . . drop . . .
. . . drop . . .
. . . drop . . .
The first tentative touch
. . . drop . . .
. . . drop . . .
. . . drop . . .
The rain comes with a rush.
Over the thundering raindrops
comes a heartfelt sigh.
The prairie's in anticipation
of the onrushing high.
As the drought-parched grass
drinks up the rain,
lightning colors the clouds -
the sky's all aflame.
. . . drop . . .
. . . drop . . .
. . . drop . . .
The rainfall slows
. . . drop . . .
. . . drop . . .
. . . drop . . .
The plains are aglow.
As the prairie and sky lay
mingled in gentle embrace,
a grand metamorphosis
begins to take place.
The grass is now green.
The wildflowers in bloom.
The bright sweet sun
shines out of the blue.
. . . drop . . .
. . . drop . . .
. . . drop . . .
Water trickles off of the grass
. . . drop . . .
. . . drop . . .
. . . drop . . .
The rain's here at last!
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
All is still and quiet
on the green Texas plain.
A cloud's overhead with the promise
. . . of sweet, sweet rain!
- - - October 19, 1998