Rain Is a State of Mind
Unwelcome many times
--
Rain is a state of mind,
unwelcome many times.
So many pleasant plans we’ve made
driven away by clouds and rain.
Rain, rain go away
Come again some other day.
Can’t you see I want to play?
Rain, rain go away!
But if the rain should cease to be?
Come back, come back
would be our plea
We cannot live without you!
Don’t leave us here in dust and ash.
How wrong we were! Forgive us!
A sunny day is very fine
but sometimes only clouds define
the depths and contours of our lives.
Your presence gives the earth a break
reminds us to decrease our pace,
slow down and welcome needed rest.
We tilt our faces towards the sky
and feel the lift that sunlight brings.
But just as much we must embrace
the healing rain that heaven sends.
“Rain, rain go away! Come again another day! “is a childhood rhyme I would often chant on rainy days, especially in the summer. I wanted to join my friends and play outside, coming in only for lunch or when it was time for supper.
Much older now, I think about our earth and how very fragile it is. And what would happen to us all if there were no more rain.
So even though I still feel a twinge of impatience when a rainy day ruins my outdoor plans, I hold my tongue and don’t intone “Rain, rain go away…” On a rainy day I can still write a poem, read a book, or chat with a friend. And let the rain do its important work.
I hope you enjoyed this poem and brief essay. If so, you might also enjoy this piece about rain and the natural world:
https://medium.com/scribe/even-when-it-rains-the-birds-still-sing-5d32366abe82
