Long Dry Season
It’s been a long dry season
Unmerciful and just too damn hot.
Crawling into August
All round-bellied and panting
Into air that’s empty, sharp and brittle
That scratches at skin already become reptilian
I realize I have nothing left to breathe but dust and
irritation.
I am already forgetting the feel
Of rain on my skin
On my tongue heat and sand dance wild.
It has been a long dry season
And I am feeling this drought in my bones.
I have been thirsty for so long
Praying for hope, praying for mercy,
Praying for monsoons.
I am rewarded with nothing more than confusion
A dangerous mirage, and more sand to swallow.
I’ve been ready to lie down
And accept the loneliness of this dehydration.
But then there was you,
Vibrant precursor to a storm.
It’s been a long dry season, yes,
But now there is you
And the sky is alive with electric shock unnatural.
This is heat lightning,
The prickle of tender skin
Without so much as a drop of rain.
This is the quiver of an unexpected dawn
The jubilant promise of maybe
The spark of anticipation that
Fuels imagination and I swear
If I close my eyes tight enough
I can feel water, cool and fresh,
Covering over me like baptism.
Of course, this is nothing more than potent delusion
My tongue is still thick with bitterness and lack of rain
But the sky is on fire now
Blinding bright but hopeful…
I am remembering how to sweat in the sunshine
Remembering the feeling of something to look forward to
And the fear of disappointment
All this beauty terrifies me.
It’s been a long dry season
And I have finally found something worth suffering for:
Hope for better days.
Perhaps the seeds of clouds are sprouting in your eyes
There is always something new and under-appreciated to
behold
The sky may still be unyielding but it is beautiful.
I must remember to throw my head back in gratitude
For this too-rare beauty,
To forgive its imperfections
To find the sheer joy in every moment,
And just to trust that the rain will follow.
No comments:
Post a Comment