Sunday, April 25, 2010

spring rain


i welcome the very idea of spring as it spreads the notion far and wide
and most especially inside my head and heart
that its big brother “summer” is not far away!!

spring is full of little “wow” moments -
the first crocuses,
birdsong, buds, the return of life -
a welcome change from the narrow field of experience
the canadian winter provides.

so one of many “wows” of spring left my mouth
when i came across the poetry of new zealand writer hone tuwhare.

i really love how this man sees and then how he writes.

tuwhare is of maori heritage, inheriting his dad's gifts as a storyteller.



we’re supposed to get the first bit of rain we've had in a little while today,
so to acknowledge
and celebrate that fact,
here’s my favourite tuwhare poem entitled “rain” . . .

i can hear you
making small holes
in the silence
rain
if i were deaf
the pores of my skin
would open to you
and shut
and i
should know you
by the lick of you
if i were blind
the something
special smell of you
when the sun cakes
the ground
the steady
drum-roll sound
you make
when the wind drops
but if i
should not hear
smell or feel or see
you
you would still
define me
disperse me
wash over me
rain

to read more of tuwhare’s writing you should visit here.

12 comments:

Elisabeth said...

Wonderful poetry here, Steven, poetry of the earth. It seems simple somehow, when I read these words but their effect is anything but.

Jinksy said...

There's a few of those holes in the silence here today! lol :)

Aleks said...

Wow,indeed!! : )
Thank you!

steven said...

elisabeth - it is poetry of the earth - that's so well said!! poetry that sees the earth as a body and then so much more. steven

steven said...

jinksy - now what's going on over at the palace?! steven

steven said...

aleks - i'm glad you liked that word journey. steven

ellen abbott said...

how very wonderful.

steven said...

it is isn't it ellen!!! steven

Joanna said...

This is so clearly the voice of one who lives inside of nature. Thanks for sharing Tuwhare's words, Steven.

Barry said...

A wonderful and thoughtful poem Steven.

We were promised rain today as well, but it still hasn't arrived. I would know it by the sight, if by no other sense, even though it has been a while since I last saw rain.

Tess Kincaid said...

You're right. This is wow.

Penny said...

Wonderful poem, just wish we were getting some autumn rain at home but we are not. Here in the tropics where we are holidaying there has been plenty.
Worrying that we are heading for another drought year, in what should be assured rain area and this time with no assistance. When farming it is always a worry when the rain doesnt come when it should, and we are now well past the time we normally start to get it.