Rain Song

Today I learned something important:

The falling rain makes more than just one sound.

Sitting next to my open window,

The symphony of droplets sings out.

Deep tones from the ones hitting the fire escape

Mix with the melodic sizzle of those on concrete,

The tempo of the tinkling contact of water on glass

Rises and falls on my window,

And the steady drips pouring over the rain gutter

Keep percussive time on a window air conditioning unit.

You'd think the ones soaring through the sky

Would make no sound at all.

But if you're still and quiet -

Oh so very, very, quiet -

You'll hear the humming of the air around them

As each one creates a tiny breeze all its own,

Multiplied by several billion.

With such a joyous harmony,

It's no wonder the birds can't help but sing.

It's no wonder the squirrels dance across the telephone lines.

It's no wonder, none at all,

That human spirits settle into this sound

Like a lifelong violinist pulling a bow across strings:

Effortlessly life-giving.