
~
excitement and hope fill the air
as billowy clouds build and winds gust
neighbors gather outside to witness a miracle
the prospect of rain a pungent prayer
skies darken with immense clouds, and then it begins
blessed rains pour from the sky as if from a spigot
birds sing, humans rejoice, and trees sigh
gratitude dancing in our hearts
~

This rainstorm last week was the peak thrill of our summer. The extreme heat and dry weather continue and have kept me indoors much more than usual. This one brief downpour was the only rain we’ve had in two months. The grass is brown and bone dry, with wilting bushes, and tree leaves turning brown and dropping to conserve energy. I’m missing nature, exercise, and fresh air, while very grateful for my air conditioning. I feel bad for those who are facing this heat without AC.

Gratitude and joy fill our hearts as the rains begin.
Thank you God nature spirits.
May you bring relief to our parched lands and souls.
I feel this viscerally! Thank you for continuing to share the wisdom of nature with us Brad. I have a special relationship with the clouds. And your post today reminded me to — look up and receive the bounty of the storms and the sun. May your day be filled with the peace you share. Andrea
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Yay! I’m delighted you shared in my feelings Andrea and the words reminded you to look up and appreciate the clouds and sun. 🙏
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Pungent prayer! We are very dry here in MA, too. We were supposed to have thunderstorms yesterday and we ended up with barely a sprinkle of rain. Lots of thirsty trees/bushes/plants remain… I have noticed, however, that the grass under/near trees is still greenish while the grass with no daily shade is brown. Hurrah for all that trees do to keep our planet liveable!!!
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Agreed Will. The trees and nature provide so many gifts and the sustenance to support life. Now, if we can learn to live more gently and share! 🙏🌏
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So happy you got some refreshing rain Brad… Loved your descriptive poetry that expressed the Joy… And like you we too in England was very thankful of the rain we had after the heat… Great photos of the clouds and the rain dropping in the distance.. ❤
I hope you continue to have a wonderful week ❤
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Thank you Sue. The absence of rain has made me much more aware of the need and gift when it does rain. ⛈ 💕
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Exactly… Carrying water to all our allotment plot takes two hours of work daily… So we appreciate rain, even more.. ❤
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I was very grateful for the storms we got there yesterday as well. So very much needed.
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Me too Alethea. The absence of rain has awakened me to the gift of rain. 😍
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Lovely.
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Thanks Tim.
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One thing with nature is that it doesn’t take permission before any action 😊
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Yes, we aren’t in control.
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I love the raw imagery and beautiful connection of this piece! ❤
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Thank you Jaya. I was hoping to convey the feelings and intensity. 🙂
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How deeply we are all woven with the temperamental skies Brad 🙏
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Yes Anand, the threads of connection bind us all if we pay attention. 🙏
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I love your poem and gratitude, Brad! I pray we would have the same blessing in CA! The wildfires are frightening and worrisome.
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Thank you Miriam. I know CA and other places are suffering even more than here. May you receive the blessed gift of rain too. 🙏
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The weather finally woke up many people. I don’t know if we’re too late to save the planet and save ourselves, Brad. We need miracles.
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Yes, the extreme weather is helping people realize climate change is real. Maybe we’ll make changes in time.
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Spectacular cloud photos, Brad! I love how you always convey the majesty of nature in all its forms, through your poetry and photos.
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Thank you Natalie. I’m glad you enjoy them. Stay cool. 😋
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Your writing is so beautifully felt Brad. So happy you got rain. W are so desperate for it in California!
💖👏👏🙏🙏
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I’m glad you could share in my excitement and gratitude Cindy. I hope California and many other places get rain and relief. 🙏
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A wonderful visual of a community coming together to appreciate needed rain. Two months without rain? Sounds like the desert!
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Thanks Michele. Yes, our plants and trees are suffering with so little rain.
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You are welcome, Brad. I hope they and all of you get more relief, soon. We may actually be getting more rain than you. It has been a decent monsoon season, not strong, but compared to last year, it’s an improvement.
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Nice. I’ve seen some areas in the SW with flooding.
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Yes, that is the downside to too much rain too fast. Can be a dangerous situation!
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Morning Brad – thank you for the fabulous photographs and wonderful words….first of hope and excitement at the prospect of rain….and then rain, glorious rain. But now it’s gone… It is the same story here in the UK…brown fields and grass everywhere….causing fires to be sparked.
Oh beautiful rain do please com back again.
I remember in the sixties and seventies wise ones predicting that there would be water wars!
Let’s hope that we all get rain soon. XX
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Thank you Janet. I’m sorry you’re having the same harsh weather with no rain. We need rain and to make changes in how we live and manage precious resources like water.
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Yes we do…all of us:) X
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Beautifully done 💖
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Thank you! 😊
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Hi Brad,
Another wonderful illustration of the beauty of nature.
I love rain and thunderstorms.
Great poem and pictures! Blessings!
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Thank you Ana. Yes, storms can be fun to watch as long as they aren’t too intense!
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I can FEEL that storm and I’m hoping the rain vibrations will come our way, too. New England is in a drought, but we’ve had some rain in the summer, but much less than needed. Horrible that your area hadn’t had any in two months. ;-0 I love the electricity in the air as we wait for an impending storm. And the release is just magnificent. Great verse here Brad, as well as the cloud photos.
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Thanks Pam. Yes, the change in atmosphere is fun to experience, especially combined with human excitement over the rare treat this summer. We definitely need to do some rain dances and prayers.
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I’m rain-dancing along with you in spirit! May it work — soon!
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We had rain! Maybe it worked. 😋
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Yay for you! No luck here – could you dance harder, please? 🙂
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😋
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Spectacular and marvelous pictures, Brad. We too in India are having rainy season and it feels so good and the climate is awesome. Lovely post.
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Thanks Kamal. I’m glad you’re receiving the precious gift of rain.
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You are always welcome dear Brad 💖
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I can feel the excitement, joy, and relief from your words which make me feel like dancing.
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Yay! We need more dancing! 🙂
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wonderful images and beautiful poetry.
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Thank you Audrine.
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Great images and poetry, Brad! I can feel the excitement, beauty, and gratitude 🙂
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Thank you Ka. It was a rare treat. 🙏
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Those photos are so dramatic! I love scenes of stormy skies, and the rain is a blessing. I’m so glad you got a break from the heat and the land got a good watering. 😀
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Yes, we’ve had a scorcher summer and I’m very grateful for the rain when so many places are experiencing drought. 🙏
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It’s been hot everywhere, it seems. Even in northern Canada we had a couple of days in the nineties.
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Yes, climate change is playing out as scientists predicted. 😪
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I’m glad I saw the glaciers before they’re gone.
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Oh how I long for rain! Beautiful post.
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Thank you Bridgette. We’ve been getting rain. I hope you do too.
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Love those pictures Brad!! Glad you guys got a break from the dry and heat!! My best to you!
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Thanks Kirt. We’ve had a couple of brief rains, but mostly relentless heat.
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And here we sit in the Pacific Northwest after record amount of rain this last winter and spring…had some rain last week actually. We have had a few days that were hot and central air is not the norm up here….but after living in LA and AZ over the last few years….no complaints!!! We were coastal in San Diego, so not far different temp wise than up here. Having said all that….there is a definite change in climate norms and that is alarming…thanks again for your posts!!
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Yes, climate change with the storms and wild weather are alarming.
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