Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Waiting at the Window

I woke this morning to the sound of raindrops on the roof. And, for the first time in a very long while, eagerly awaited sunrise to greet them.
So little, so late--another drought for the Midwest.

Through the sparse brown grass on the lawn, the dry earth is easily seen. Open areas have become dust bowls, where birds gladly fluff their feathers, as if in water--the fine particles of our clay soil, a smooth and cleansing dry bath.

More bad news of the global economic decline leads the day's broadcasts.
And I feel somehow we have seen this before.
Families watching their lives blow away, arms around each other. Helpless to catch it.
Waiting at the window--
for change.




Waiting at the Window
by A.A. Milne


These are my two drops of rain
Waiting on the window-pane.

I am waiting here to see
Which the winning one will be.

Both of them have different names.
One is John and one is James.

All the best and all the worst
Comes from which of them is first.

James has just begun to ooze.
He's the one I want to lose.

John is waiting to begin.
He's the one I want to win.

James is going slowly on.
Something sort of sticks to John.

John is moving off at last.
James is going pretty fast.

John is rushing down the pane.
James is going slow again.

James has met a sort of smear.
John is getting very near.

Is he going fast enough?
(James has found a piece of fluff.)

John has quickly hurried by.
(James was talking to a fly.)

John is there, and John has won!
Look! I told you! Here's the sun!

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13 comments:

NCmountainwoman said...

I think we all feel helpless with the news of the day. We're also getting some much needed rain today. I'll think of the Milne poem as I watch the drops run down the windows.

Naturegirl said...

Interesting poem about a raindrop..

dguzman said...

I'm happy that we've had as much rain as we've had; our drought in PA was brief and long ago. Hope you get more rain as the season develops.

kjpweb said...

Nice and soothing abstract! Love those greens!
Cheers, Klaus

Anonymous said...

Love the Milne poem

Mary said...

Nina, this might be off topic, but when I was a child, sitting in the back seat of my parents' enormous Buick, I played games with rain droplets and races to the finish...

Lovely post - and I'm glad you have rain. It's raining softly here, maybe for a day.

nina at Nature Remains. said...

Mary--Not off topic at all.
In fact, I remember this verse from my childhood in the same way.
And my thoughts for the morning were simplified recalling the watching of raindrops falling.

Lisa at Greenbow said...

I love days that I can sit and watch the droplets run down the window. They have been few and far between this summer and fall.

A Colorful World said...

What a poignant and beautiful post. And I loved the poem.I am happy the sun came out at the end. There's hope....

Anonymous said...

Love the raindrop picture! Beautiful colours. Almost good enough to frame!

Julie Zickefoose said...

Now We are Six--a classic. I must pull that back out and read it to Liam. Phoebe, I'm afraid, got most of the reading time, and poor Liam must fend for himself. Must amend that.
I think we're all fighting back terror, just under the surface. I am sure that President is the last job I'd want right now--imagine the courage of a candidate to say, "I can fix this."
Gorgeous post.

suziam said...

How wonderful!! Thank you. The poem and the photo were perfectly suited to each other.

Anonymous said...

very interesting poem indeed.