In Defiance of the Rain

I'm sitting in the shelter
in the pungent scented garden,
Listening to the hissing
of constant precipitation.
Soft crackling rain on leaves tempts
my ears to strain beyond the talk
Of the couple sheltering here with me,
breaking off their walk.

A diagonal swathe cuts
across the sky separating
Cumulus from more foreboding
matt grey clouds (holding rain).
Doves seem to hunch their shoulders
as they fly with collars turned up
Against the ingress of the misty,
silvery, rainy drops.

If such a thing can be said,
the flowers before me look brave,
Holding up their colours in
defiance of the steel grey rain.
It works too! I could swear I felt
autumn lighten as the dark
Cloud passes, and suggestions of
sunshine whisper round the park.