Summer Rain

As I returned home from a long day of teaching, the rain began to fall. It had been so hot all week--I was mad as hell at anyone I could think to blame for the heat. At last a break, the beautiful juxtaposition of heat and rain forcing the memories to my mind, the smell of rain splashing on the asphalt--I felt giddy, like a child. I rushed upstairs to put up my groceries, change my clothes, so that I could get back outside--I was going to play in the rain, for the first time in my grown-up memory. Sadly, the rain began to soften when I got out the door. Nonetheless, I pulled out a chair by the pool, sat in the wet seat, and leaned my head back to catch the rain in my mouth. I could have fallen asleep, the calm of the slow, steady, drip drip of the rain on my face and arms. I really wanted to get soaked, soaked all the way through--but there was not enough rain to wash me clean, at least not today. I'm keeping my eyes out for another rain, in hopes that the meaningless details of my life do not get in the way of my search for a cool relief.

Mireille