Friday, May 3, 2013

April Showers


MISSOURI RAIN


They predicted rain this morning
with thunder growling like an old dog
on my front porch.

Today the optimara violets
bloomed crimson--
larger than the ones in my mother's garden
where I buried her broken china
tea cup in mud when I was five.

At Uncle Bob's funeral
she held her coat over
my head
when we walked through the rain---
pennies falling
on a canvas shelter
over his grave.


Somewhere in Florida
on a cloudless day
my mother waxes the dining
room table, lemon oil
thick with summer heat.
She rubs out finger prints
and the rings where my elbows
rested last spring.

I look in the mirror
trace the curve of my nose
the line by my eyes,
her eyes,
and wonder if she hears the rain
falling through my fingers. 






   


RAIN BALLET


The sun folds gray eyelids
against fat, aggressive clouds
that envelope light
storing it in deep pockets
for spring.
It is cold, the color of iron
tastes of ashes and late snow
leaves staining the pavement
where puddles cup the sky's
solemn glare.
Ballet of wind
tiny feet dancing
over slippery window panes
a celebration of water
in a song that only I
can sing.



66 comments:

  1. beautiful captures! new follower here from fun friday hop. Followed you on Twitter and bloglovin. Liked your FB page as well. thanks.

    https://www.facebook.com/pages/My-Sweet-Haven/276485245818097

    ReplyDelete
  2. Rain, rain and more rain. You can sit and watch if for hours thinking about memories of the past whilst contemplating the future. A lovely but yet solemn post for me especially with the line 'she held her coat over my head when we walked through the rain'. Oh, the thoughts running through my head right now as I have a quiet but private moment reading this post. I also enjoy the pictures which brings it alive.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The rain has a way of bringing out such somber, contemplative moods...

      Delete
  3. some wonderful images. Love the one of your mother wiping down the table.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks you, Sandra. Love seeing you here again!

      Delete
  4. Replies
    1. Thank you, Lanthie. That's exactly what the rain sounds like to me when it hits glass or even the roof of the house.

      Delete
  5. Lovey, I love nature shots. No matter what they are I have to look and wonder...
    Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So glad you enjoyed the photography! Thank you!

      Delete
  6. Hey! I'm a new follower from the Friday hop!

    I'd love it if you can follow me back! :)

    xoxo,
    ochibernadas.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. I LOVE the first picture of the barn through the rain. Very nice! New follower from the Social Sunday. Heather M, www.RockStew.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much--glad you like photography! Thank you also for following our blog--we have returned the follow via Facebook!

      Delete
  8. Im just growing to appreciate the lovliness of poetry. I never understood it much before. But these were gorgious little displays of imagery in my head...thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, we're so glad you found us and appreciate what you saw and read here! There will be plenty more poetry and beautiful images to match the emotions---hope you come back for more!

      Delete
  9. Your poems are too lovely . I love rain so I am surely loving to read all of these.
    Noor @ Noor's Place

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much! I really do love the rain---it's best when I can sit by a window with a good book and listen to it fall while I read or blog! There' something very comforting in the sound of raindrops hitting the roof.

      Delete
  10. This is my first poetry read in 20 years. I'm not a poet and don't like poetry but I like this one, especially after all the rain we got in Chicago last month. This will force me to read poems, so I'm subscribing by email. Sheila@The Frugal Exerciser

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That would be wonderful!!! Thank you so much, Sheila. Glad to get you back into some poetry!

      Delete
  11. This is beautiful. And I absolutely love it. I can't wait to read more on your blog.
    Now following from the TGIF Blog Hop via Bloglovin, Twitter and Facebook.
    Have a great day!
    Christine @ Musings of a Single Mama
    www.musingsofasinglemama.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm so glad you enjoyed the poetry and photography! Thank you also for the follow!

      Delete
  12. Oh, those words drip with familiar emotions. I love the poetry and the photos. Once again; such a lovely combination. I placed your blog on my sidebar so I won't miss a beat. So glad to read your shared thoughts :) XX-Michele

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thank you, Michele. We're always happy to see you here--and thrilled that you like our site enough to place it on your sidebar. We are honored!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Stopping by from the weekly "Pimp-Out/Showcase" Hop and letting you know I am your newest follower. I clicked on your link because of the name. I started blogging when the the world fell out from under me and I "hit rock bottom". I am so intrigued by your blog & look forward to exploring it further. Your photography is beautiful and leaves me feeling as if I have been hugged in an odd (but good) way....
    Carolyn @ iamthecraftylady.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What a kind thing to say--thank you so much! We are really happy to have you here. I hope that blogging has helped you through whatever trials you have been facing. For us, it has been a great outlet and a way to express ourselves through our art. Thanks for joining our site and we hope to see you here again!

      Delete
  15. The pictures are wonderful. Hope you have a great day.

    Heidi’s Wanderings

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for stopping by and glad you liked the photography!

      Delete
  16. These photos are amazing! I love taking photos and I'm also a poetry lover!! I'm stll afraid to share mine, so kudos to you! Its beautiful! I'm your newest follower from Friend Connect blog hop and I'm a brand new blogger! I am very happy to "meet" you! Please come by and visit me at http://mybutterflyhaus.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much for the follow and glad you like our site!

      Delete
  17. Beautiful photogs! Saw you at the Thumpin' Thursday blog hop! My dad lived in Missouri, those long, windy, hilly roads have some really pretty landscape! Following you on Bloglovin! (And trying to figure out how to make that possible on my blog. I'm new) Nice to "meet" you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Joy! Happy to meet you! Missouri is such a beautiful state--I have some fond family memories from my days of living there. Thanks for the follow and glad to have you here--hope you'll come back again, too.

      Delete
  18. I love the rain, specially rain storms with lightning and thunder! Reminds me of home :)

    Sofia
    From PDX with Love

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There's just something so cozy about a rainstorm, isn't there? I love listening to the rain on the roof. It always makes me want to write or curl up with a good book. Thanks for stopping by, Sofia!

      Delete
  19. Thank you for stopping by Deezy Does It this week!! I hope you signed up for the giveaway.
    Thanks!
    xx xo
    Deezy
    http://deezydoesiteezy.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  20. Stopping by from the Aloha Friday Blog Hop! I am originally from MO-Southeastern MO to be exact. I now reside in IL, which isn't too far away (I'm about an hour from STL)and it still reminds me of MO a bit. It's kind of strange how it seems to all blend in as you cross the state line from MO into IL.

    Love your writing. I am a poetry nut myself, although I haven't done much of that kind of writing lately. I followed you via Bloglovin' so I could stay up to date.

    Please stop by my space called A Plethora of Pondering's and check out what I have going on over there!

    http://plethoraoponderings.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's so true!!! When you cross the midwest state lines it's hard to tell the difference! Thanks for stopping by, Sara and for following. We'll be sure to check out your site. Hope you get back into some poetry writing soon!

      Delete
  21. New BlogLovin' follower from the blog hop!

    http://www.lukerfamilytales.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Staci. We'll be sure to return the follow!

      Delete
  22. love the pictures! hope you can stop by my blog and link up your facebook page

    Delightful Ideas

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for stopping by, Lala! Glad you liked the photography!

      Delete
  23. I could just smell the rain!!! Awesome post:))
    Just dropping in from Lets Get Social Sunday to thank you for joining in and to make sure I am following you:)) (via twitter and Bloglov')

    Hugs My Friend

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Evelyn! Glad you came by and I love your blog hop!

      Delete
  24. Hi! Newest follower here... I love your blog! I was hoping that you would pop on by my blog and follow me back!

    Have a lovely day,
    Sarah
    www.enjoyingtheepiphany.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the follow--we'll be sure to check out your site!

      Delete
  25. Hey there! Here from the Blog Hop! Just wanted to let you know I'm following you via Twitter! I also liked your Facebook page! Hope you'll get a chance to visit me :o) You can find me here:

    Blog url
    http://www.croppedstories.blogspot.com

    Facebook
    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cropped-Stories/615495055132216

    Twitter
    https://twitter.com/croppedstories

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the follow--we'll be sure to check you out!

      Delete
  26. Beautiful! Visiting from the blog hop; great way to start my day. Following you now. I'm at www.pushingonarope.com; hope you'll stop by.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad we started your day off right! We'll be stopping by to check out your blog!

      Delete
  27. I'm a new follower! You are so talented. Thanks for sharing! :)

    http://talesoftheyoungertwin.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Kel! We'll hop over and check out your site, too!

      Delete
  28. Thanks for stopping by and for hosting the hop!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Loved your poetry. I write poetry too.


    http://mary-anderingcreatively.blogspot.com/?m=1

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's awesome! You'll have to let me know the next time you post some poetry on your site!

      Delete
  30. Hi there! Visiting you from the Thumpin’ Thursday Blog Hop!

    XOXO, Mandi @ All My Happy Endings

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Mandi! Heading over to your site next to see what's happening there.

      Delete
  31. :) Stopping by from the TGIF Blog Hop! Followed you Bloglovin'

    Return the favor? My blog is found here http://unconventionalmommytails.blogspot.com/

    look forward to your posts!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the follow--headed over to your site now!

      Delete
    2. Erin--I just realized we are already following you on Blog Lovin.

      Delete
  32. I am a new follower from the blog hop, I loved these pictures! I hope you will follow me back!

    http://couponcalimom.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  33. Gorgeous photos! You are so talented with your words. new follower~

    ReplyDelete
  34. Beautiful photos! Newest follower via blog hop!!!Please follow back?!

    ReplyDelete