COASTAL DROUGHT
On the north coast of NSW sometimes it can get rather dry in the
spring as the weeks go by without rain. One such period inspired this
poem. Of course, Australia is a land of droughts and they get far
worse inland. The poem also makes the point that despite the amazing
growth of modern technology we are still basically dependent on
nature and what the ancient called the four elements- earth, water,
air and fire. All these are points I made in an earlier poem
Longing for Rain. This poem is a second bite at the apple but I
think it does approach the subject in a rather different way.
COASTAL DROUGHT
Sun
of spring is cruel without
rain
sustaining growth's renewal.
Wisps
of white cloud hold no promise;
sunburnt
hilltops bare harsh brown.
Leaves
show drooping; some are shed.
Grasses
parch now: yellow, dead.
Blue
sky means but lasting dry.
How
welcome now would be dark cloud
weeping
water on the dust.
How
sweet would be the sudden storm
with
drenching sheets
of
grey rain sweeping down
upon
this baked and cracking earth.
And
so it is that here we see,
despite
our proud technology,
extracted
from the realm of stone,
that
we are still of greater world,
that
we still breathe with living need
for
grace from over us,
for
blessing from above.
O,
shifting kingdoms of the clouds,
we
are filled with longing now.
O,
waters of the sky
bring
your blessing to the ground,
fall
upon us from on high.
Oh,
relieving life,
oh, revitalizing,
lulling,
falling, cooling, flowing,
come
again
angels
of the waters,
cloud-winged
with rain!
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