Latter Rain

Posted on Monday 6 August 2007 at 03:12

Who would've thought, after all the rain this spring, that I'd be glad to see a bit more? Like ancient Israel, we do experience early and late rains here--the late ones being smaller and less reliable.

It's been so dry that the ground has hardened. I can't even till around the edge of the garden in some places; it's like rock. But the scorching heat is now gone, hopefully to stay that way.

As of August 1st, it immediately felt like August. It was the strangest thing--but then, our weather has been wild and unpredictable all year. The air became cooler, the winds changed. Then we began to have a bit more cloud cover. And this morning, when I went out to find the cow, I saw a sky of deep, dark smoky blue in the northwest. The colour of rain coming.

I thought this, too, would pass, but it began to drizzle, until the whole world was enveloped in grey above and a steady, gentle dripping. It feels like roses budding, long days, and a harvest coming. The smell of sweet living things is in the air.

The year will end soon. Too soon, I think, this time. Last year seemed long, but for the moment, I feel the change of leaf too close by. Of course, I may change my mind the next time the wind changes direction. It all depends what it brings with it.