Rain -- by Zephirine

.

I like the sounds it makes outside
when I wake up in the night and hear
the drumming
of a million million gnat-sized drummers
or the padding
of innumerable soft invisible paws
or it might be almost nothing
a tiny whispering drizzle on the wind
but sometimes
aha
sometimes a tap has been left full on above my roof
and it’s gushing crashing
and this is not so likeable
and I remember the bit of gutter
which still hasn’t been fixed
that’ll be it
that waterfall
and what the hell
have I left just under my window
on which irregular huge drops are gonging
bang – bang – bang bang ------bang
--------------------BANG
----bangbang----
and now
horribly familiar
a gentle fountain-like splashing
from the little tiny basement yard
which because I didn’t unblock the soakaway
is becoming a pond
that will be in the kitchen before morning
I have to get up
there is no choice
and go out there in the dark
wading in two inches of water by now
(barefoot is quicker than finding the boots)
and feel about in the unwelcome little lake
with the rain thudding onto my back
and the sound of the rain mingles
with me muttering
fuck – fuck – fucking hell –
- wherethefuckinghell is the fucking-
till I find the drain cover
lift it with an effort and a metallic scrunch
the pond swooshes away
the kitchen floor is saved
and I am very wet
and now suddenly
the rain eases up
stops
and there is silence
apart from that drip under the window
as I dry my feet and get back into bed
plop- plopplop ---- ploplop – plop-
plop

plop



.