Tom Snyder: Collected Poems

Desert Rain

Unlike the violent, emotionally disturbing rainstorms
of summer, we have a welcome, polite rain today.
A quiet, thoughtful rain, elderly and gray,
like an old friend visiting you for tea.

But as the day wears on
and it continues to rain forever
you don’t quite know where to stand
inside your house, or what to do with your hands.
You keep seeing things that aren’t really there,
hearing whispered voices outside.

Who will retrieve the mail you wonder?

The drip, drip of this soft, constant rain is driving you crazy.
And, like all guests, a day or two is enough.