Carol A. Hand
Awakening slowly
after a stormy night’s
seemingly dreamless sleep
frequently interrupted
by the urgent sound of rain
pounding on windows and roof
accompanied by booming thunder
that shook the house
to its very foundations
yet resting unafraid
and rising gently
to greet the day
gardens transformed
overnight
***
***
other awakenings grace my days
encountering random kindness
in unexpected places like the city bus
as a stately elder gentleman
reached across the divisiveness
so prevalent here today
to bring kindness and comfort
into the lives of others
and graciously dealt with
rejection from those
effectively conditioned
to fear difference and joy
I couldn’t leave the bus
without thanking him
in the only words
that came to me
“Sir, you are a blessing to others”
***
As are you, Carol!
I love your garden, it reminds me of our backyard, when I was a child.
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Thank you, Dave. Perhaps some people see me as a blessing, although many do not. 🙂
Thank you for sharing your memories of your backyard garden. My garden feels a bit like a jungle this year, but I do love it just the way it is. 🙂
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“…although many do not. ”
Who cares about them? I don’t!!
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❤
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Great, dear Carol! Welcome back! The garden is a true Paradise! 🙂
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Dear Maria, thank you so much for your kind words. Sending my best wishes. ❤
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What a lovely garden, and a beautiful reflective poem, refreshing as the rain
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Thank you so much for your kindness, Paul. ❤
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I long for that storm Carol, and the kindness you witnessed must also have been like balm.
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Thank you for your always lovely comments, Andrea. Gentle, steady, soaking rain has been scarce here this summer, too. When it comes, it’s most often accompanied by fierce winds and falls hard and heavy. Still, it eases the agony I feel from the wilting plants and parched earth.
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Thank you so much for the beautiful rose, Superduque. >3
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❤
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Hi Carol, your gardens look wonderful. I love the flowers growing against the fence. Storms sure do make the garden grow. The lightning helps as much as the rain. If we were closer we could trade, fresh flowers for a root of potatoes and some carrots, perhaps. Your kindness towards the gentleman is the kind that spreads. Take care. Bob
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Thank you so much for your thoughtful, lovely comments, Bob. It’s always a gift to hear from you. It has been hot and dry since the storm. It always makes me wonder about the best way to help plants survive, but they seem to be doing well. I already have beans and broccoli that are almost ready to harvest. I did have 3 little tomatoes already although the plants are weedy monstrous creatures despite my best intentions initially.
Honestly, my yard looks a bit like an unkempt jungle to me. I would love to trade flowers for potatoes. I grow flowers for the bees and butterflies, although once planted almost everything spreads and takes over. I wish kindness would spread as quickly. 🙂
I send my best wishes to you, dear friend.
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How I love a good thunderstorm!my cats, not so much.
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I’ve learned to appreciate the power of thunder storms, too, PJ. Gratefully, I’ve not experienced the devastation they can leave in their wake.
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We had one storm that knocked a bunch of trees down, but only one so we’ve been lucky.
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Inspiring…
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Thank you for your kindness. ❤
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😀
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Beautiful poem, Carol. There are awakenings everywhere.
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Such a hopeful observation about awakenings, Diana. Thank you so much for your always kind and thoughtful comments. ❤
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