implacable rain
drenches skin, soil and stem but
my words keep me dry
Copyright 2018 Brenda Davis Harsham
Notes: This poem was inspired by the poem Warm by Ann Whitford Paul:
Winter winds howl, yet
we stay warm, wrapped in cozy
pages of our book.
I found her shivery-cold poem in Jumping Off Library Shelves: A Book of Poems, selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins and illustrated by Jane Manning. It fit with the cold April rain. I’ve been reading kids poetry collections — I’m working on one of my own. Anyone else working on a collection?
Happy Poetry Friday and thanks to Irene Latham at Live Your Poem for hosting!
Writing Tip: Look for contrasts (wet to dry, cold to warm, shade to sun) that convey both setting and transformation with amazingly few words.
61 thoughts on “Words Keep Me”
Comments welcome!
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Friendly Fairy Tales 
Wow😍
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Thanks.
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Do let me know when your collection is finished! I will be first in line to purchase a little of the sunshine!
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LOL You are lovely for my soul.
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Thank goodness for the shelter of words!
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Yes! 🙂
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Ta da! I can see your website. I really do get such a charge…as in re-charge of a deep breath, shoulders relaxed, look up at the sky for a moment to enjoy peace feeling when I stop by here. Your short poems capture beautiful moments…with such gorgeous photos. Your words keep more than you warm and dry in the rain of busyness.
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Writing my poetry gives me respite. I can turn things around and decide they are good. If the reader gets that, too, then I am well pleased. 🙂 I’m so glad you stopped by.
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Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
GLAD THAT YOU ARE COLLECTING. BRENDA! YOUR WORK NICELY COMPLEMENTS THE OTHER WORK.
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Happy Poetry Month. Such pretty pink blossoms, too.
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Thanks, Ruth. Colors are so vivid in the rain.
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Yes they are, Brenda.
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colors
wonderfully express
being wet, dry
and joyful 🙂
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Yes, it is possible to be all three, with the right attitude. 🙂 Thanks for your poetic comment.
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I love the idea of words keeping us dry. May the sunshine appear soon.
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Today is a beaut. 🙂
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Brenda, Words Keep You Dry but your flowers get doused by the rain. We have the rain too. It is cold rain that makes you want to have soup (which I did). I like both poems but really like #1. I posted my invitation to my spring gallery, Sense-sational Spring. I am sure that you will have no problem using your senses to create poetry for the gallery. Thanks in advance.
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You make me marvel, Carol! I’ll try, but I’m in deep revision on two mss. Nose to the grindstone for now! Sooner or later I’ll pop up though. If something catches your eye, let me know.
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Wonderful haiku, Brenda. The title of your post (excerpted from your poem) caught my attention. What about a list poem entitled “Words Keep Me”?
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Another great idea.
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Beautiful! I love the thought of words keeping us dry.
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Thanks, Kay. 🙂
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From the image of “implacable rain” (oh, sadly yes) through the lovely “my words keep me dry” I loved this little poem.
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Thank you!
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The idea of words keeping us dry evokes a sense of safety. This touches my heart.
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I also like the idea that, with words, we can create our own safe words. Thanks for reading.
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The photograph is stunning. I like the comfort and contradiction in both poems.
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Thank you!
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Living in a rainy climate, I can relate to this oh so very well! Poetry is like my umbrella! 🙂
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Yes! I’m glad it resonates.
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Your poem made me smile and sigh. Good to hear you’re working on a children’s collection!
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I’m reading your books. Dumpling Soup made me want to give you a huge hug and share some dumplings. And the Aunt farm was such fun! I’m excited to read the Woman in the Moon next. I applied to be Artist in Residence at Volcanoes National Park this summer. Even if I don’t get it, it has me thinking of Hawai’i everyday. Ahhh.
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Oh, I really HOPE you get that residence!!! The Big Island is fascinating. And thanks for reading my (ancient) books. Sometimes I forget I actually wrote them. DS will be celebrating 25 years in print this Fall. 🙂
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My parents lived in Hawaii before I was born, and my mother still has her recipe book. Wiki Wiki Kau Kau, if I remember right. Fast Food. 🙂
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Both are beautifully done, but the one about rain I especially loved.
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Thank you, Tara!
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Lovely. Picture is beautiful.
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The rain stopped just long enough for me to get out my camera, but then a tree aimed a huge splat perfectly. LOL
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Wonderful.
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Thanks!
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A response/haiku/thank you:
Thunder rolls, rains gush,
Watered words grow, bud, blossom:
Till chaos is hushed.
by Donna JT Smith
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Lovely use of contrast to bringing healing. Your poetry is lovely, Donna.
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My words keep me dry! I love that. I also love the word umbrella suggested by Tab. Brenda Poppins! Thank you for sharing your words with us. So so lovely. xo
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LOL Perhaps a word raincoat, too. 🙂 Thanks, Irene. I love the outpouring of words and history on your site this month.
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I imagine you with a word umbrella. Fun!
Do you have a theme for your collection?
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I do, but it’s under wraps! I’d love to do an off-line critique exchange if you’re interested.
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I’d be happy to take a look at your collection, Brenda!
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Yay! Thank you. I have your email, I think. I’m going to revise in the next few weeks, and then I’ll send you the new version. XOXO
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Awesome lines penned, Brenda and I so loved the picture too.
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Thanks, Kamal!
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Welcome Brenda.
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This is a lovely line Brenda, “my words keep me dry” how perfect! And I like being kept warm by your “cozy
pages of our book.”
Goodluck on your collection. I have one I’m starting to toy with, but I need to focus on my picture books–not enough hours in the day. Thanks for that lovely hyacinth pic too!
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I have too many mss and not enough time. But once I finish editing my newest MG, I’m turning back to my collection. Best of luck with your mss.
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The certainly do!
And how cool are you.
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LOL Looking for little gold nuggets in the world of poetry. 🙂
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I love the photo and poem!
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Thanks!
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i can’t wait to read this, you are such a natural –
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Thanks, Beth. You are the best!
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awesome!! 🙂
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Thanks!
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