Exposed to the Elements

The steel colored sky draws me out
 as everyone else scurries in.
The treetop’s wild dance is reflected in my eyes
as I pay barefoot homage to the gathered elements
and storm ready to be birthed in their play.

I am aware of the ogling through glass.
Any fool can tell whispers apart from honest thunder.
Fool is one of the more charitable epithets given to me
from the asylum of their sturdy walls.

If I stayed inside, away from the feel
of wind tumbling my hair around me,
if I denied myself the pleasure
of water easing the heat
of the day from my skin,
I’d be the darling of all the parties
featuring makeup and storage containers.

I would not be alone.

But I am alone, watching the clouds unabashed
at their own power, parading their majesty.

When the rain finally comes,
I, as the lone worshipper
sing the hallelujahs in my heart
out loud so that the voyeurs
will have something to discuss
at the next container party.


This song is the product of combing prompts from Imaginary Gardens With Real Toads (Fireblossom Friday, A Touch of Gray) and A Dash of Sunny Prompt Nights (Rain showers my spirit and waters my soul)

48 comments:

  1. Right on, baby, Let your rain freak flag fly! You got to be who you are - it's your responsibility! Thanks, wild child, you bring me inspiration!

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  2. Oh this is classic in so many way. You had me at the Tupperware. One of my fondest memories is of racing home on my bike--I was 7 miles away--trying (but not caring if i made it or not) to beat a big gathering storm. The wind was strong and at my back, so i was really flying with almost no effort. I made it about 3 miles before the torrents came. I never forgot the joy of it.

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  3. My mother and her friends used to have those Tupperware parties and such. This smacks of the 50's early 60's for me. You go girl!

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  4. This is excellent! You wild girl! I love being outside. Actually, today it started to thunder and lightning and I was outside. And, then I thought, maybe I should go in ! LOL! My mom use to have Tupperware parties. I loved them! LOL!

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    1. There's a lot of magic in a good rainstorm.

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  5. Much rather out in a storm than eating crustless sandwiches at a tupperware party. LOL. I especially love your closing stanza........I feel that way, too, out in nature.........

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    1. Nature appreciation is sometimes a solitary pursuit, but it is so rewarding despite the occasional loneliness.

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  6. I love all the allusions of madness--how crazy it is to stay indoors when Nature is gifting her yums so freely. I love her freedom, her willingness to be herself, her acknowledgment of what truly matters. And I love, love, love the passion raining out of the language. ♥

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    1. Glad someone caught those allusions. I had a good giggle coming up with them.

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  7. Whistles!! Such passion and precision in your verse Rommy :D I absolutely adore this image "I, as the lone worshipper sing the hallelujahs in my heart." Beautifully penned. Thank you so much for participating at Prompt Nights and for your constant love and support ❤❤

    Lots of love,
    Sanaa

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  8. Like Shay, this brought a memory out for me--of standing in my garage doorway looking north into the storm, singing an old folk song at the top of my lungs(Wild Mountain Thyme, actually) and watching the lightning light up the universe and the wind drive everything before it--I love your final image and how you set it up, but also the fool line--that hits home, but then we knew that. ;) Good stuff, Rommy.

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    1. I love that song! I learned it in college at an SCA type club I belonged to (it was called That Medieval Thing). That's an awesome song to sing during a storm.

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  9. What a Wild Woman thing to do! I loved being out in the rain as a kid living in Texas. It was warm, yet cooling. Just had to make sure is was just rain and not the wild green sky that birthed tornadoes! Couldn't dance in the rain after we moved to Colorado. The rain would leave you shivering! Thanks for the memories and for being the kind of gal that chooses the storm over make up!

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    1. I've only seen that strange green sky once in my life, but then again, I've spent the majority of it in the Northeast US.

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  10. The metaphor of madness and those parties thrown is such a perfect match to the craziness of thunderstorms... how can we ever avoid being the conversational topic afterwards? maybe the life's contribution to at least proved such topic for gossip.

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    1. LOL, possibly, though it would be a lonely occupation at times.

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  11. I loved your ending, Rommy. As a man I've never been but have put my order in several times. I am the most unorganized man born. It took my daughter and I three long days and nights to get my office cleaned out when I retired. Some the boxes I've never unpacked.
    ..

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    1. I love the concept of organization, but it's implementation is not a fun as the idea.

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  12. Lovely reflective poem Rommy, enjoyed it very much.

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  13. Having cavorted in the rain whilst others huddle inside I can affirm it therapeutic value. How important it is to be and enjoy being different. I loved and I wish I had written it!

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    1. What a wonderful compliment to receive - thanks! :)

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  14. Beautiful poem! My boyfriend likes storms. I like rain on the roof but not getting wet!

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    1. There's a lot to be said for cuddling with someone during a storm too. ;)

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  15. A container party would be a decidedly grey spot on any day of mine - far rather listen to the rain alone.

    Great concept you have explored here, Rommy.

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    1. Loneliness is sometimes difficult, but it is worse to be untrue to one's self just for the temporary (and false) relief found in forcing oneself to fit in a place that really isn't right.

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  16. I love this, it sounds so wonderful to be cleansed by the rain - I would join you if I could
    :-)

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  17. Ah yes, that's the very best kind of aloneness!

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  18. "as I pay barefoot homage to the gathered elements" ah, the fulcrum of the poem...lovely...

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  19. I think it is crazy not to feel the elements and wonder in the storm..that's where the magic of the world is - not in perfect make up and clothes! Long may we break from the asylum walls and wonder!

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    1. There's magic in letting go of the shoulds.

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  20. Who would be so ordinary as to prefer makeup or container parties to the orchestra and light show of nature?

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  21. It's always nicer to be outside playing with the rain and wind. Nice how the narrator makes this choice.

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  22. Oh, Rommy! Very impressive. Love this chosen and profound aloneness "But I am alone, watching the clouds unabashed
    at their own power, parading their majesty." Beautiful depiction.

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    1. I like the way it felt set off on its own as well.

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  23. Had the rain viewing experience, had the Tupperware experience. And now by our offering of the two juxtaposed. Now its my turn to sing - Well done well done

    Much love...

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