Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Watching


Another dVerse OpenLinkNight. Grace, host of tonight's event, has me thinking about spring. Write a few lines, send them in, and join the fun!

Watching

The storm, asking
no permission, broke

fiercely. Never one
to miss a good show,

I took a hard-backed chair
and cold beer out

on the front porch. How
long I sat

watching the water
thrash the trees and

tumble from the eaves,
I don’t know.

My reverie was broken
when I heard a voice

from the neighboring porch.
Hey there! Earl hollered out

over the storm noise.
Just watching it rain! I yelled back.

I hear you, brother!
The rain continued

to fall,
delicate drops

now, baptizing
the new grass.

We both went back
to watching.
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36 comments:

  1. ClaudiaApril 30, 2013 at 4:08 PM

    oh i just love watching a decent storm...the sound, the scent of rain...wonderful..and yeah...the storm never asks for permission...it just does what he wants to do..

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    1. JeffMay 1, 2013 at 6:35 AM

      Thanks Claudia--something about that untamed power draws me to it.

      Delete
  2. Janine BolléeApril 30, 2013 at 4:09 PM

    Can be quite tiring, all that watching.
    I remember those storms from the Far East, mesmerizing.

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    1. JeffMay 1, 2013 at 6:37 AM

      Thanks Aprille--watching is fast becoming a lost art.

      Delete
  3. Brian MillerApril 30, 2013 at 4:55 PM

    smiles...i love watching a raging storm...all the power...it leaves me in awe...and even across the yards you had someone to share it with...which can be a bit grounding...

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    1. JeffMay 1, 2013 at 6:38 AM

      Thanks Brian--I like being outside with the lightening crackling around me. I guess I'm crazy that way. And yes, having a good neighbor adds to the fun.

      Delete
  4. brudbergApril 30, 2013 at 5:07 PM

    I remember the fascination with a storm... especially as a kid. Great one, and nice inspiration,

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    1. JeffMay 1, 2013 at 6:41 AM

      Thanks Bjorn--anytime I have the chance, I go outside to storm watch. I think I missed out on a career in meteorology!

      Delete
  5. HeidiApril 30, 2013 at 5:12 PM

    great story. storm watching is awesome.

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    1. JeffMay 1, 2013 at 6:41 AM

      Thanks Heidi--awesome in every meaning of the word!

      Delete
  6. AnonymousApril 30, 2013 at 5:38 PM

    I was just doing that prior to sitting down to do some reading. Excellente. Very real, honest, crisp, like the hard hitting rain of your subject. A nice part of Spring.

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    1. JeffMay 1, 2013 at 6:44 AM

      Thanks Henry--I enjoyed your own rain poem very much!

      Delete
  7. RMPApril 30, 2013 at 6:27 PM

    I can picture you there, just sitting, enjoying a cold beer as Mother Nature rains down; seems oddly peaceful. I wouldn't mind grabbing a cup of tea and joining in.

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    1. JeffMay 1, 2013 at 6:50 AM

      Thanks RMP--it IS oddly peaceful. There's room on the front porch for you, anytime you're in the neighborhood!

      Delete
  8. AnonymousApril 30, 2013 at 6:30 PM

    Ah, lovely. k.

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  9. AnonymousApril 30, 2013 at 7:39 PM

    Love the imagery, and I really liked the dialogue.

    Very nifty touch.

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    1. JeffMay 1, 2013 at 6:53 AM

      Thanks Sky--Earl's a great neighbor, knowing when to speak and when to be silent.

      Delete
  10. Laurie KolpApril 30, 2013 at 8:30 PM

    I love the smell of rain and grass. This is a wonderful atmospheric poem, Nico.

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    1. JeffMay 1, 2013 at 6:56 AM

      Thanks Laurie--the smell of rain is one of Nature's great blessings.

      Delete
  11. GraceApril 30, 2013 at 8:34 PM

    Love the unfolding of storm and watching the rain ~ The format works very well ~

    Great to see you in the pub Nico ~

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    1. JeffMay 1, 2013 at 6:56 AM

      Thanks Grace--thanks for hosting, and for your always-kind comments!

      Delete
  12. MaryApril 30, 2013 at 8:41 PM

    Ha, I prefer to remain INSIDE during storms; but I do agree that there is something amazing about watching a truly GOOD STORM.

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    1. JeffMay 1, 2013 at 6:57 AM

      Thanks Mary--my wife and kids are scared to death of storms. They usually just sit inside shaking their heads at me.

      Delete
  13. AnonymousApril 30, 2013 at 8:44 PM

    Storms are mesmerising... they can be frightening and yet their power draws you in... they're amazing to watch, you captured the feeling beautifully in this poem!

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    1. JeffMay 1, 2013 at 7:02 AM

      Thanks Di--just don't try to drive when the roads are slick!

      Delete
  14. UnknownApril 30, 2013 at 10:20 PM

    I'd be there with you watching... such beautiful and strange creatures, storms. Great write!

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    1. JeffMay 1, 2013 at 7:08 AM

      Thanks Apryl--you're welcome to come and watch, anytime!

      Delete
  15. dragyonflyMay 1, 2013 at 2:04 AM

    When the tornados season start in the south, well, in MY neighborhood at least, the warning sirens are like a signal for all the neighbors to come out of the house and look at the sky. We all stand around and watch the sky turn scary yellow then creepy green and we joke about which way my tree will fall. I loved this piece and it inspired me to work on my memoir. Thank you.

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    1. JeffMay 1, 2013 at 7:11 AM

      Thanks Deb--watching the weather change . . . Glad this worked to inspired you to write!

      Delete
  16. kelvin s.m.May 1, 2013 at 5:42 AM

    ...baptizing the new grass --- now that's excellent! when in storm play i don't think we have more decent choice other than to watch evrything around change its form... ha, & hopefully by watching we would be awakened somehow from many of our ignorances... smiles...

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    1. JeffMay 1, 2013 at 7:15 AM

      Thanks Kelvin--I also think there is no other choice!

      Delete
  17. Arron ShillingMay 2, 2013 at 10:42 AM


    something zen in your writing,
    like I wish I could delineate
    the world this way, but then
    i'd miss the magic
    in the way
    that you
    do it -

    parity.

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    1. JeffMay 3, 2013 at 8:46 AM

      Thanks Arron, your kindness means a lot to me. Mutual admiration, yinyang.

      Delete
  18. hyperCRYPTICalMay 3, 2013 at 5:52 AM

    There is something mesmerising as nature displays her anger...wish I had a open porch - I have to view her wrath from indoors...

    Anna :o]

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    Replies
    1. JeffMay 3, 2013 at 8:48 AM

      Thanks Anna--yeah, the full experience only comes from being able to feel the electricity in the skin.

      Delete

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