Friends,
Thank you, so many of you, for asking.
Ike indeed appears to pack a powerful punch.
We live in Austin, which is well inland.
We are apt to get some wind. And some rain.
And thousands of evacuees.
Storms have ripple effects, to be sure.
For example, our kids will get out of school at noon on Friday because the roads into and around our city are likely to become impassable with traffic from the coast.
Traffic.
Meaning: tired, hungry, worried people — looking for hotel rooms that are sure to be all booked up.
Their dogs & cats mewling from carriers in the backseat, their photo albums safe in the trunks of their cars…
Today I’m posting rain poems, mostly because that’s where my head’s at.
But also in the hopes that if we feed the beast he’ll turn it down a notch.
Take it easy on us, ol’ Ike…
— Emily Dickinson
Like Rain it sounded till it curved
And then I new ’twas Wind —
It walked as wet as any Wave
But swept as dry as sand —
When it had pushed itself away
To some remotest Plain
A coming as of Hosts was heard
It filled the Wells, it pleased the Pools
It warbled in the Road —
It pulled the spigot from the Hills
And let the Floods abroad —
It loosened acres, lifted seas
The sites of Centres stirred
Then like Elijah rode away
Upon a Wheel of Cloud.
Poem (In the morning, when it was raining)
— Delmore Schwartz
In the morning, when it was raining,
Then the birds were hectic and loudy;
Through all the reign is fall’s entertaining;
Their singing was erratic and full of disorder:
(Read the rest here…)
The Rain
— Robert Creeley
All night the sound had
come back again,
and again falls
this quite, persistent rain.
What am I to myself
that must be remembered,
insisted upon
so often?
(Read the rest here…)
Thinking of you, Liz….
My sis lives near Corpus Cristi. She and her kiddos arrived earlier today. So glad to have them safe and out of the chaos.
We’re fine and things will slowly but surely get back to normal down on the coast. Has your sister gone home yet?
After MANY cancelled flights, she was able to leave late yesterday afternoon.
Glad things are okay with all of you!
Beautiful, and very fitting. I hope Ike does take it easy on you.
Janet
All we got was breeze in the end…
I knew you weren’t in imminent danger from Ike, although I hear that West Texas is getting drenched today too from another storm system.
Love the poem choices, even if I don’t like what motivated them.
I know, crazy, huh? Rain left and right!
I’m getting more frightened by the news coverage.
But I love the watercolor of rain poems you’ve swirled together.
Stay safe!
We were high and dry. Our friends in Houston, though, are still without power and potable water…
Beautiful choices, Liz. Hopes and prayers for safety for all.
Looks like they’ve rescued many… phew.
Beauty and sadness
This is a lovely offering to the weather gods. I hope it works.
I especially love Dickinson’s phrase “till it curved” and Schwartz’s “loudy.” Thanks for those.
~eisha (7-Imp)
Re: Beauty and sadness
I know. Till it curved just blows me away… (oops. pun unintended…)
oh, so i have YOU to thank for my sisters (and nephews and bro in laws) safe passage thru this wild weekend?? wow. and you managed to fend ike off completely from austin!! ya know, next time maybe just ONE poem, so we can get a smidge of rain??
thanks, you wiccan wizardress!!
Oh, yes. The power of the pen, proven yet again…