Dust to Rain

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Dust to Rain

The world, my dear, is dust to rain
over and over and again.
It is as true as it is sad
that relief cannot be had
unless some travail happens first.
How can we quench unless we thirst?

Those times you go without a trace
of raindrops on your upturned face
give way to petrichor—they must
as finally rain comes down to dust.
Bountiful years follow the drought.
It is the way the world’s planned out.

Grandparents tell their younger kin
that drought is the result of sin
or hurricanes our penance for
those misdeeds the gods abhor.
But this is all mistaken lore
dispelled by whiffs of petrichor.

The prompt words for today were trace, kin, bountiful and petrichor ( the pleasant, distinctive smell frequently accompanying the first rain after a long period of warm, dry weather in certain regions.)

https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2018/11/08/rdp-thursday-petrichor/
https://fivedotoh.com/2018/11/08/fowc-with-fandango-trace/
https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2018/11/08/kin/
https://dailyaddictions542855004.wordpress.com/2018/11/04/daily-addictions-2018-week-44/bountiful

18 thoughts on “Dust to Rain”

  1. slmret's avatarslmret

    Omigosh, what wonderful photos of dust and rain! Hmm — petrichor — I’ve smelled that wonderful smell many times, but never knew there was a word for it!

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      2. slmret's avatarslmret

        I have no idea where in the string this will show up — I can’t say that I haven’t thought about moving to Mexico — but with NO knowledge of the language, I should have done that 15 years ago or more!

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        1. lifelessons's avatarlifelessons Post author

          I’d say the great majority of Americans who live here don’t know Spanish. It is the largest group of expats outside of the U.S. and Canada..Almost every place has someone who speaks English.

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      3. slmret's avatarslmret

        Keep talking! But remember that in all my travels, I’ve always gone to places where English is the first language (except for one day-tour in Acapulco and one in Costa Rica) I am not sure I want to live so far out of my element!

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          1. slmret's avatarslmret

            Yes — I, too, think they’ve changed it. There used to be a reply button at the end of every comment. They must be trying to curtail conversations by reply!

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  3. Reflections of an Untidy Mind's avatarReflections of an Untidy Mind

    Bravo Judy! Your words and photos are just wonderful. I have trouble remembering words. Use it or lose it as they say. And since we have had very little rain I thought I would slip it in as a memory prompt to fortify my own mind. It’s a bit like your word “zaftig”, but unfortunately I’m reminded of that word every day. 🙂

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    1. lifelessons's avatarlifelessons Post author

      I forgot that you were the source of the prompt for petrichor, Tracy. I actually have received that prompt at least once before in the past year or two but can’t remember where I used it before. Or, perhaps I dreamed this. Although I remember there is a name for this odor at the beginning of rain, I can never remember it and have to look it up. So many words, so little time.

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