One might think a break from the worst
be accompanied by trumpeting, bright
angels swooping low with silver watering
cans sprinkling the land, the dry tongues
of man and beast loosed to taste the miracle,
the thunderous crescendo of hallelujahs
with each strike of lightening—a time
to toss the cork from the communal jug
with jubilance and thanksgiving. But
before the seed swells to break the crust
of its deep dust bed, we beg for more
like children for cake and ice cream.
Too late to awake from this dream
we know as well as grass and water,
one might think we rest instead of feeding,
instead of bleeding, wrestling bales of dry,
fine-stemmed hay to clean-haired cattle
in their Super Bowl Sunday best.
Thick, dark clouds rest upon Dennison
as it snows on Blue Ridge, its thin, white
filigree of canyons traced across the Kaweah
as the load rocks in and out of a rut. We hold
our breath, like always, and imagine being
scattered with alfalfa down a mountain’s side.
drycrikjournal 
This one is rich with your usual visuals, John. Gives one hope, yes?
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Kind of a strange poem, Sally, but consistent with how I feel this morning. Tired. Our half-inch rain was not a ‘solve-all’, but merely a break, and yes, some hope. Always battling the elements, as you know, hope is the bottom-line in this business. It seems to keep us going. Thanks for your feedback.
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I was out taking photos because the light was delicious from the overcast (at last clouds and no sun). I saw a smudge on my lens…what? It was the first rain drop before it started coming down. Drops in the bucket, I know, but so wonderful.
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Yesterday from the coast, my daughter sent this one through the windshield with her iPhone to perk me up:
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So beautiful!
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John- your poetry paints images deeper than the media could ever hope to achieve through their sound-bites.
When I do hear news of the California drought conditions… I think of the story you tell. Although it doesn’t directly help your community… I am more conscious of how my family is using water. -Jane
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We could go on and on about water, about food. I believe that California is a leading indicator for the West and that water will be the issue here long after this drought is over. Good to be thinking in that direction, conscious of how we use water forever more.
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I have to agree with you. We traveled through California last October. Portland to Phoenix… the writing was “on the wall” then… so many billboards addressing the politics of water. We saw the “bathtub ring” at Lake Mead and thought it was just a seasonal drop. Had no idea it’s at chronic levels with not much hope of recharge.
Our water levels are below normal; but no one is panicking … yet…
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