Showers by Marcia Meara
Showers
Drip-drip.
Huddled and sighing
Inside the tent,
Boredom a damp presence
Keeping him company,
While Dad naps
To the sound of the rain.
Drip-drip.
Comic books scattered,
On his rumpled cot.
Superheroes as powerless
As little boys, while
The day spills water
Over all his plans.
Drip-drip.
No fishing today.
Those shimmery trout
Are safe in the stream.
No hiking alone,
That’s the rule.
What’s left to do?
Drip-drip.
Quietly, he crawls outside,
His stifled squeals
Turning to laughter
As the ice-cold water
Tickles his back.
This could be fun!
Drip-drip-drip-drip.
Rain falls harder.
He splashes wildly
Through silvery puddles,
Arms flung wide,
Laughing louder, and
Doing a rain dance all his own.
Drip-drip-drip-drip.
Awake now, Dad laughs, too,
Tossing him a bar of soap.
He grins at this new idea.
A rain shower?
Why not, says Dad. May as well,
Once your rain dance is done, that is.
Drip-drip-drop.
– Marcia Meara –
This is utterly delightful, Marcia. I can picture this as a lovely children’s book. It’s just the sort of poem I’d have enjoyed reading to my sons when they were little.
Blessings ~ Wendy ❀
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Thank you, Wendy. It’s actually part of a little virtual chapbook of poetry. The first half of the book is called Mac At Ten, and features the main male character from my novel (Wake-Robin Ridge) when he was a little boy, spending his summers in the Blue Ridge Mountains. I sort of fell in love with Mac as a boy, while I was writing the book, and wanted to include a few poems in the back about this period in his life. They grew into enough to combine with some other poems and make up a book (Summer Magic) which I published a couple of months ago. I’m glad you like this one. This little boy is very real to me. (But then, so are most of the voices in my head! 😀 )
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BTW, I’m running a special on Summer Magic this week. If you stop by my new Author’s Facebook page and Like it, I’ll gift you a copy. Free is good!! 😀
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I can absolutely relate to that. A neighbor boy we had moved away, and he has inspired a character that will be in my book. I didn’t get to know that young fellow–but it’s amazing what you learn just by hearing his mother shouting…
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Oh, I’ll bet. Such inspiration. Maybe someone in your new book will inspire a collection of poems from you, as well. And if you want to read more of mine, there are a few on this blog. Click on “My Poetry” in the Cloud List on the right, and you’ll find several. Also, there’s a menu button at the top where there are three others, too. Enjoy! And seriously, I’ll gift you a copy of the book in exchange for a like on https://facebook.com/marcia.meara.writer
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Thank you, Marcia. I do like your Facebook and I “liked” it. 😉
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OH, thanks. If you give me an email addy, I’ll gift you with a copy of Summer Magic. (I posted about it on your page yesterday. I’d like you to have it.) Email me at mmeara@cfl.rr.com
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It’s amazing how things change as you grow up. I can remember running around outside in the rain on a warm afternoon when I was little–but now when I’m rained on, I’m looking forward to a change of clothes, not splashing in puddles.
I love how this poem reminds me of those carefree days, when getting soaked was fun–until my mom would catch me. 😉
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Oh, to be a kid of ten again, eh? At least in some regards. But you know, if we just look at things from a different perspective, some of that COULD be fun again. Nicki and I went nursery shopping in the rain one day, and we had so much fun. Of course, it wasn’t a downpour, but we were definitely wet. And cool. Now I think we should have splashed in puddles, too, instead of walking around them. 🙂 Glad you like this one, Caitlin. Thanks for stopping by.
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