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The Smell of Rain (repost from Prose)
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The Smell of Rain (repost from Prose) |
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Alicat Member Elite
since 1999-05-23
Posts 4094Coastal Texas 
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In that place, it never rained. Never rained except in stories, the stories told by the old men sitting outside the feedstore, ragged sweat-stained hats pulled over their eyes. But the stories they told, to any who paused long enough to listen on that dusty old street, were stories told to them by their great-great-great grandpas, passed down hand-to-mouth like a communicable disease. They spoke of rain, rain in the desert, water falling from the sky. Now, everyone with the least bit of sense knows that water comes from the ground. But still they told their tales, water falling from the sky. I reckon they had a pain fixation, for slapping water with your hand stung a bit; now consider that same water falling like little bombs, leaving little bruises, possibly losing an eye to that stuff. Then those old coots, probably crazed from the heat, would go on about clouds, or somesuch. Water held in the sky. Talk about silly. Ain't they never heard of gravity? Take a glass of water, turn it upside down, and see what happens. Better pray also that nobody sees you do it, or you're liable to get shot. Then, one day, something strange happened: the sky changed. Now, we were used to the copper or blue dome, and the occasional dust storm, when the sky would be orange and brown. But this was different. The sky was black and blue and green, like someone had punched the sky in the eye. All the townsfolk gathered in the streets and square, staring upwards. Hell, even the old coots got up from their rocking chairs and shuffled down to view this odd sight. And a soft breeze blew up, and it felt like shade. The sky grew darker and someone screamed, pointing at a small crater in the dust. We saw another, and another; there were wet spots on our clothes and skin. Some people started to melt, or so it seemed, their dark tans running down their faces. It began to rain. And on that errant breeze we caught a scent, something we never smelled before, the sweetest smell we ever knew: the smell of rain. Heh, even the old-timers didn't know what it was. And it rained and rained. For a week it rained. It was as if the ocean was upside down. The streets turned to ochre mud, then brown rivers. Some houses got washed away, but noone moved from where they stood, water swirling and tugging at their knees. Rain Day became a holiday. But, as the years passed, so did the memory. In time, the reason was forgotten, then the holiday was forgotten, just a snippet of trivia buried in the almanac. There are still a few of us who remember though, and we sit and rock on the feedstore porch, telling our stories to any who pause long enough to listen. We still recall the smell of rain. |
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| © Copyright 2003 Alastair Adamson - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Justbleu Member Elite
since 1999-08-31
Posts 3329Oregon, Originally From Alaska :) |
Alicat.....perfect treasure for the book!!!! The smell of rain is quite nice..... I personally miss the smell of a cold crisp clear autumn day in Alaska. LOVELY STORY!!!! THANK YOU!!!! Bridgette  |
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cupcake Member
since 2003-01-05
Posts 116 |
Very interesting read, visual and nice. I'm a reader - not a writer. |
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Chanson Senior Member
since 2000-08-19
Posts 1559Up Creek w/Out Paddle |
You took me there. *s |
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Janet Marie Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554 |
Then, one day, something strange happened: the sky changed. Now, we were used to the copper or blue dome, and the occasional dust storm, when the sky would be orange and brown. But this was different. The sky was black and blue and green, like someone had punched the sky in the eye. All the townsfolk gathered in the streets and square, staring upwards. Hell, even the old coots got up from their rocking chairs and shuffled down to view this odd sight. And a soft breeze blew up, and it felt like shade. The sky grew darker and someone screamed, pointing at a small crater in the dust. We saw another, and another; there were wet spots on our clothes and skin. Some people started to melt, or so it seemed, their dark tans running down their faces ================================== I had forgotten that prose could be a part of this...and so it should be... very cool imagery in this surreal gem of pen... we dont get to read you often enough poet sir.!! "Trees are poems that the earth writes upon the sky ... |
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Sudhir Iyer Member Ascendant
since 2000-04-26
Posts 6943Mumbai, India : now in Belgium |
Great work... Regards, Sudhir |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
 Alistair...so you finally decided to make the book QUITE worthy...and about time!  |
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Earth Angel Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215Realms of Light |
Now I am even more eager for the spring rains to fall! I love to walk in the rain, love in the rain, sing in the rain and smell the fresh clean scent of the rain! Thank you for this highly enjoyable--and memorable--reading experience! ~ May the cleansing rains from heaven wash away all stresses and negativity in your life! Warm hugs, Earth Angel |
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SPIRIT Senior Member
since 2002-12-29
Posts 1745California Desert |
Great write, certainly gets my vote. |
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Mistletoe Angel 
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816Portland, Oregon |
 Yay! Oh Alastair, I just love this, sweet friend, can I borrow some of that rain, pretty please, here in Colorado we are in an intense drought situation and I miss singing in the rain! (big hugggssssss) You have my vote, sweet friend, yay, we all love you so much! You have such a beautiful heart, sweet Alastair, thank you for sharing!  May love and light always shine upon you! Love, Noah Eaton "Underneath your clothes there's an endless story..." |
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bsquirrel
since 2000-01-03
Posts 7855 |
Love the cycle this takes. |
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Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
I remember this well....and remember the smell of rain here in the desert.  |
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Nicole Senior Member
since 1999-06-23
Posts 1835Florida |
YES. Yes, I remember this, and loved it the first time. You're one of those old coots, you know. (I know you are)  |
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Enchantress Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113Canada eh. |
Wonderful...and how I love the smell of rain too! ~Hugs and a vote~ ~ Trace my body with your words.. |
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aries_luv_ppl Senior Member
since 2001-09-20
Posts 1448Universal Mind |
Good poem dedicated to rain. Sometimes we don't give it enough recogition. ~Every girl has a dream within. |
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Dark Angel Member Patricius
since 1999-08-04
Posts 10095 |
WOW, this is fantastic, the imagery is stunning! you definately have my vote Alicat.  Maree. |
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Severn Member Rara Avis
since 1999-07-17
Posts 7704 |
It would be nice to have some prose in there, and at least what's on offer is actually good heh...  K |
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Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
We have a saying where I live, "you don't grow old here, you just rust", and this of course I loved. |
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Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
YES! Thanks for this creative piece. Did you hear the click to submit over the sound of those raindrops? |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
The "smell of rain"... such a unique ambience... as is your prosaic piece, Alastair...  |
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jbouder Member Elite
since 1999-09-18
Posts 2534Whole Sort Of Genl Mish Mash |
Well done. Moving and articulate. Jim |
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winston Member
since 2002-12-19
Posts 204NW of Eden |
"passed down hand-to-mouth like a communicable disease." That's wonderful way of describing our oral tradition of story telling. Made me think of people all over the world. It's amazing I won. I was running against peace, prosperity, & incumbency. |
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garysgirl
since 2002-09-29
Posts 19237Florida, USA |
Goodness, I'm finding all these wonderful poems that I thought I'd already voted for, but missed for some reason.......:click: Now I didn't miss it....  Hugs, Ethel |
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DawnG
since 2000-06-23
Posts 1494United States |
You've got my vote Dawn |
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Titia Geertman Member Ascendant
since 2001-05-07
Posts 5182Netherlands |
Mine too Titia Like scattered leaves...my words will flow |
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vlraynes Member Rara Avis
since 2000-07-25
Posts 8229Somewhere... out there... |
OH YES!! You've just gotta KNOW how much I LOVE this! It rained here today...a cold rain..but did that stop me from playing in it? NOPE!! This, my friend, is a MUST! Did I mention that I LOVE IT?!  "...until you have read the verse on his heart, |
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Joyce Johnson
since 2001-03-10
Posts 9912Washington State |
What a refreshing change and I don't mean that as a pun. We don't lack often for rain here in the Puget Sound area but I really liked your story. Joyce |
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AnonomousHippie Junior Member
since 2003-02-21
Posts 10 |
i love the rain. |
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Ratleader
since 2003-01-23
Posts 7026Visiting Earth on a Guest Pass |
Why not? This is definitely good enough. |
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