It’s gray outside and looks like it’s about to rain. The house is quiet. The baby is sleeping. I have quiet time. Nothing like moments like this to make you reflect. Nothing like moments like this to make you appreciate a beautiful poem such as the one that follows.
When It Rains
by Ryan Kathman, Flintlock Spring 2002
“What reason weaves, by passion is undone.” – Alexander Pope
We all pick our noses
And it’s gross.
The key is,
To be spotted the least,
Rarely chided,
And often washed.
We say the things we wanted to say
Ten minutes later, when we’re in the car,
Pounding the steering wheel —
Like that’ll help.
Unless the car is the Delorian from
“Back to the Future”–
Which is unlikely.
We all wish we could trade lives with our pets
Once in a while.
Because sleeping wherever the sun hits best
And licking oneself in public
Are joys we will seldom know.
We weigh ourselves down
with the girth of our gods,
The depth of our demons,
And the mesmerizing and lonesome
Space of ceiling just above our beds.
We are not who we want to be
Nor who we hoped to be,
But we laugh out loud in empty rooms
And stare into the bathroom mirror,
To practice thanking the academy.
We are fickle, funny, and profoundly strange.
Accomplishing little, sacrificing less.
Aware of mortality, yet daring to be fat.
Desperately wanting to get over ourselves,
But secretly longing for someone who never will.
And as I sit at this stoplight, in this classroom, in this restaurant,
With gentle rain crashing to the sidewalk outside,
Thinking of people, listening to people,
Watching stories brush by my face like a silent storm,
I realize I probably don’t love my parents enough
And I have no idea why.
And I believe none of us has any idea what the hell we’re doing here.
But we don’t seem to go away. And we smile briefly at one another.
And we are all a little quieter when it rains.
Image credits: joiseyshowaa and TheZionView
Hi! I'm Toni Tiu,
and I've been blogging at
at Wifely Steps since 2003. This started as a blog to help newly weds adjust to married life. It has evolved into a home and parenting blog. I write about things close to my heart -- good eats, good reads, family, marriage, and the little things that make everyday happy.
sheng
September 10, 2009 at 2:10 pm (15 years ago)Awww, lovely poem, really.
.-= sheng´s last blog ..Krispy Kreme, Finally! =-.
odette
September 10, 2009 at 2:47 pm (15 years ago)that’s beautiful! ^-^
everyone who loves rain MUST move here in ireland!
.-= odette´s last blog ..goin’ crazy =-.
Dexie
September 11, 2009 at 8:23 am (15 years ago)a beautiful poem indeed!!
Junnie
September 11, 2009 at 10:31 am (15 years ago)when it rains…it pours. and when there are poems as good as this, it deserves more… unfortunately Ryan Kathman doesnt have much…but still, this one is beautiful and lingers. thanks for sharing
Rico
September 11, 2009 at 11:42 am (15 years ago)Beautiful poem. And it’s so me, so us, really.
Bakit nga ba mas masarap mag emote kapag umuulan? Para mas madrama?
.-= Rico´s last blog ..ang sofa, baw =-.
TheZionView
September 19, 2009 at 4:25 am (15 years ago)Hi nice poem i love the rain, Thanks for giving appropriate credits for my image. Usually i see them without credits. I am happy you respect copyrights.