Rain In May


It rains at Flagstaff,
at Cameron, Tuba City, Tonalea, at Cow Springs,
and Kayenta, at Dennehotso, Mexican Water,
Red Mesa, and Tec Nos Pos.

It falls slowly but persistently until
each dry wash lives with quick brown water.
Every low place is a shimmering miniature lake.
Seeds that have waited in dry soil for years
begin to swell and prepare to sprout.

Scrawny lambs will soon fatten and grow heavy wool.
Weak cows can grow strong and raise stocky calves.
Tired horses will slick off and buck with their riders.

What is going on here? It is May.
Rain comes to this place in July or August,
in soil sealing fury and usually with hail,
too late to work spring's magic on the land.

I stop for coffee. The little cafe
is generally Navajo silent. Today it hums
with quiet conversation.

Several, generally stoic, old men smile and nod.
I think they doubt that this white guy,
just passing through, could possibly know
what all this soaking rain in May really means.

Vessq:

You are wise to take advantage of those great Arizona sounds.

Question in the third standza..."Tired horses ille "slick" off?

I like the idea of the "soil sealing fury" of desert rains aand then the "Navajo silent". Can anything or anybody be more silent than a Navajo?

Darn it....can't find a single thing to quibble about. Nice, descriptive work.

ace

I love so much about this. Navajo silent is just a perfect as you can get! This whole piece is such an excellent snap shot of a time and place. The fifth stanza works so well because the rain has not only flooded the dry gulches but also as caused the cafe dwellers to spill over. Loved that part especially. It worked so well with the entirety.


mayo

Vess,

I've found this to be a smooth, entertaining read. I'd consider dropping the last stanza, I don't think it actually adds much to the poem. Just my thoughts.

Mark

Hi Ace, Mayo, and Mark,

Thank you for the kind words.

I have crossed the Navajo Nation many times over the last Thirty years. Hauling our barley crops to Phoenix and working in Arizona for the last few years and commuting home to Southern Colorado.

There is always something interesting to see where most see only barren land.

Vess

Vess, on first read I really think this is outstanding. I want to reread this several more times, not sure I can find anything to quibble over either. Wonderful descriptive poem.
Steve

Hi Steve,

Thanks for the kind words. I just re-read the poem an d noticed a typo. Tec of Teec Nos Pos is incorrect.

Vess