The Sound of Rain
Speaks in many voices
The sizzle of rain
like fat in an iron pan
makes my mouth water
We can’t really talk of the sound of rain and mean only one thing. Even more than the various sounds of the wind, the rain speaks to us in many voices.
Sometimes the rain is shy and tentative. We must strain to hear it as we would strain to hear a whisper in our ear.
Other times the rain beats with ferocity, battering everything in its path. Our jaws tighten and our hearts pound faster, as if we were victims of an assault.
One of my favorite sounds is the sizzle of rain on hot, packed earth. Then the rain carries not just the sound of fat frying in a pan, but the smell of dusty soil getting a much longed-for, cool drink.
Admittedly, days and days of unremitting rain can become a little discouraging. But after a couple of weeks with no rain, those first drops seem like a blessing from heaven.
I love writing about the rain, both symbolically and as a vital part of the natural world. If you enjoyed this haiku and brief essay, you might also enjoy reading this:
