On 13 Days of Rain
Hush now, dog!
There’s nuthin’ on the front
porch but an empty chair
rockin’ in the rain spatter
drippin’ off the roof. Thunder’s
rappin’ an a-rollin’ and lightnin’s
doin’ the stanky leg ‘cross the
sky – yeah, it’s loud enough to
wake the dead but they best
stay sleepin’ lest they
float away too.
****
I wrote this in 2013 in the midst of a never-ending rain event. We’re in a similar pattern here in New Orleans but I hope it won’t last as long as that one. I like this little poem, written in a few seconds from the gut. The dog was barking. He was as sick of the rain as I was. I’ve never subbed this poem because there doesn’t seem to be much interest in colloquial poetry. It’s a shame, IMO. Personally, I really like regional writing and would like to see more.
On that note, you must read this essay, “Rattle the Bones” by Jamie A. Hughes in The Bitter Southerner, if you like regional writing, too.
Charlotte Hamrick 
send us some of yours – we could use it. We had tons and now none. Feast or famine.
Love this:
lightnin’s
doin’ the stanky leg ‘cross the
sky –
such a great line!
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We? Are you involved with a journal?
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This is fantastic – your language perhaps regional, but too much rain seems to happen all over the place, and dogs tend to have a negative response wherever!
We Texans write lots about rain – mostly its prolonged absence.
Extremes either way stir up a restlessness that poetry somehow soothes. Thank you!
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Thanks, Jazz. I actually love rain and it often induces me to write. However, 13 days is pushing it!
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We’ve had a lot of rain this summer, it seems. It’s raining today. I’m taking it as a sign to stay in and not get dressed. 😉
I like the regional sound of this.
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I think it’s rained every day for about four days now and it’s forcasted to rain every day through next Friday. Isn’t it funny how rainy days make us lazy? Well, it does me, anyway. 😊
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For me, I think it has to do with the light. So cold, rainy days especially make me lazy.
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Love that “stanky leg.” Wish we had some of that here. 🙂
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Lol, I’d have it dance right over if I could!
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😀
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It has the rhythm of the rain.
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Thanks!
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