drinking tea in the rain

Drinking tea in the rain

It was a long hot summer
we waited for rain over many weeks
to be disappointed, again and again.

The lawns grew sparse and brown
plants struggled to smile, their colours
appearing dusted and drab, hang limp.

The sky lost its blue
became hazed with heat
parched air in our throats

The sea still cooled our bodies
but was as warm as a bath
no effort to swim through

Then one night we awoke
to sounds of water pouring thick and fast.
in the early morning gloom.

We found joy, made tea, 
stepped outside to drink it,
soaked to our skins in minutes.

watching rain wash each fruit on our trees
apple, pear, plum, ready to plump 
ready to eat soon enough now.

watching the sunflowers
bow their heads in reverence
then lift them fully and joyfully

Watching raindrops plop into our tea,
making coronets with their landings
we felt royal, refreshed, relieved.