Clouds roll in quickly, preceded by the rumble of thunder
Swirling about each other in a pleading dance for rain
Soon a thick blanket covers the usually clear, blue sky
Shading the cactus dotted landscape
A shield from the cruel heat of the desert sun

It begins with small glass beads
Waltzing down from the heavens
A soft padding of little feet
Ballet performed on the roof above

Thirstily sucked up by the waiting earth
The water begins to heal the dry, cracked ground
Greedily consumed by dying plants
Nourishment for new life

The leaves begin a tango step with the cool breeze that wraps softly around them
Leading carefully around the music of the storm
Gently at first, and then
The wind drowns out the soft song of rain on the roof
It begins to slow and soon it ends
There is a lull, and
Except for the light drops pirouetting on the shingles
There is a silence, only a moment

The wind blows with strength, bending trees gracefully at their waists
Blue-gray sheets flow from the roof to the parched soil below
Raindrops descend on the earth like tap shoes on a hardwood floor
Torrents of water course down the window as
A furious sky blocks the view into the backyard

Then, in the distance
There is a patch of blue sky
Light of day
Against the massive dark of tumbling rain clouds
It begins to grow
Spreading across the sky until, once again
The wind ceases to blow


The dryness is replaced by a cool, wet breeze
Plants are standing tall, healthy, thick with water
Streams of water dance in and out of rocks and cacti in the wash
Dirty refreshment for all that stop to see

The rain continues to fall
Now tiny prisms breaking gently on the pavement
In a thankful dance for the allowance of rain
Small memory of the rapture caused by the storm
While in the distance, a streak of color is slung across the sky