GIFTS

Words are Gifts


A Rush of Rain

Rain Rush

Dashes to us

Beating and banging

Shows it’s anger

Loud thumps of

Pitter Patter

Like music but dissonant

We’ve waited long

You’ve arrived hard

Waving all around

The sturdy building

Forming rivers in minutes

Why the rush?

After the wait

So welcome but wild

Worried about flooding

Praying for a glide

Rather than a stream

You are welcome rain!!!

Is it a climate change or climate rage? We’ve waited many months. Our supposed rainy season expected in April shows its head in June.

“It’s better late that never,” they declare!

For years we have always had rain, tropical rain during the second semester, in April or May. This year we had a couple of drizzles but no rain. I remember many years ago teaching my Pre-kindergarten class when we harvested rain and sang rhymes whilst it was raining, those were memorable times.

Many occasions in my fourth grade class, we experienced moving floods on our playground. Once or twice students were held in their French class because the rain was falling heavily. We have many memories of the effects of heavy rain but this year we have finished the school year with no rain tales to share. There really is a ‘climate change’ raging, if I can put it that way.

After that cacophony caused by the rush of rain a couple of nights ago, we are still waiting for another, many more. We continue to read the signs of tropical rains and not rely on the forecast. I hope I’ll soon have the opportunity to write my rain tales here.



6 responses to “A Rush of Rain”

  1. Here too- the rainy season is not being as rainy as it “should” be. The memories forged by dramatic weather really do stay with you, don’t they. I found this part especially evocative:
    Praying for a glide

    Rather than a stream

    You are welcome rain!!!

    Liked by 1 person

  2. I love this, Juliette. Your poem captured your rainy season experiences so well. I enjoyed reading your post! The typical weather patterns where I live seem to be shifting, too, and I often wonder how much of it is related to climate change. Last week, it rained all day nearly all week. The temperatures alternate between late July/early August hot and March cold. I can’t seem to put away my sweatshirts and heavy jackets quite yet.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Jackie Higgins Avatar
    Jackie Higgins

    I loved how you opened with the poem, building the experience of the rain and then provided the narrative of your recent experiences with rain. I wonder about mixing genres like this with students. It is powerful in connecting with a reader!

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Juliette!
    I love this!
    Thank you for posting and sharing

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Moving floods on the playground sound terrifying! But I guess it’s what you’re used to. Kids can manage when they’re familiar with their surroundings.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Juliette, love these lines in your poem:
    “You’ve arrived hard” and “Forming rivers in minutes” Yes, tropical rains!
    How is it that some still deny the climate has been globally disrupted?

    Nice post!

    Liked by 1 person

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About Me

I am am Elementary school teacher at an International IB School in Accra, Ghana, West Africa. I write with groups of writers, such as Teach Write.

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