Monsoons Back Home Poem by Arti Chopra

the rain talks to me...softly
as it splatters down
on the green grass,
the rain talks to me knowingly,
as it brushes my nose
pressed against the window glass

it reminds me of the monsoons,
that must have arrived back in my land,
monsoons that greened the landscape,
as if with a magic wand................

the rain brings back, powerful memories
of hot pakoras and fragrant tea
so many things, so many images
the rain conveys to me...

people forever, sweating
, looking hopefully at the sky
praying to the rain Gods
not to let the crops die,
and finally the rain Gods answer...
with black sheets of welcome rain
that time of season
has finally arrived again.......

no lover waits more eagerly for its beloved,
than my people, waiting for the rain
the heavenly smell of mangoes
and the cry of the cuckoo bird
the buzzing of insects and
many strange sounds, till now unheard,
all bring back the magic, the romance
of the rains....
the magical silver moon
how it waxes and wanes...............
the rain talks to me.......
..
and here in a new land
the rain wafts down gently
, my heart is back home
though I am here presently,
how beautiful and soothing
is the sound that it makes
will cleanse out my soul
and fill up the lakes........
the rain speaks to me softly..........

and when the clouds have lightened
and watered the earth,
the flowers have brightened,
the butterflies dance in mirth,
my soul has been cleansed
and my spirits uplifted
what a beautiful sight, nature has gifted

the rain and I
finish our conversation,
a revival of hopes, a joyous observation
Im refreshed and happy,
my soul has been lightened
the longing and sadness
have cleverly been quietened,
by the rain,
so softly it spoke to me.....
as it continued, its quenching jouney

I love the soft splattering
the incessant chattering,
sometimes in slanting sheets,
sometimes it almost beats
my face, and soaks me to the bone
I love its insistent, sometimes thundering tone..
so gently, so softly
when it speaks to me
of happy times that will be....
I love the rain.................