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Incantations for Rain

By Darrelyn Saloom 65 Comments

Withered grass crackles under my feet, and my flip-flops leave a dusty trail en route to the backside of the farm. I am intent on closing a gate, but halfway along I kneel to study wide cracks of parched earth and discover underground ant highways and intersections exposed by the drought.

I rise to the long screech of a red-tailed hawk. He sits high above me in a live oak, and I hear the flutter of giant wings on takeoff. I look up to watch him soar to his favorite perch atop a dead pine that overlooks thirsty pastures, teeming with appetizers of baby rabbits and mice.

Plastered in sweat and dust, I secure the back gate and try to spit a salty, metallic taste from my mouth, but I’m dehydrated and only manage to fire a pathetic chain of spittle toward the sun.

Nothing but dirt scents the air. Grit has lodged in my nostrils as I follow the same dusty path back to the house. A few low-level clouds have gathered. But I’m skeptical. Every afternoon, clouds congregate to tease a chance of showers. Then right after sunset, the stingy sky-angels dissipate and take with them my incantations for rain.

Fat droplets of water from their gray bellies are what I long for. A widespread downpour that hammers for hours to animate birds, fill the ditches, hatch mosquitoes, incite a frog symphony, douse wildfires, flood trails, and green back the ravaged fields and the trees.

Photo by Denis Collette, Creative Commons license via Flickr. Post by Darrelyn Saloom, co-author of the memoir, My Call to the Ring. 

___________

Buy a year of Every Day Poems, just $5.99— Read a poem a day, become a better poet. In August we’re exploring the theme Rain.

Red #9

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Darrelyn Saloom
Darrelyn Saloom
Darrelyn Saloom is co-author of My Call to the Ring: A Memoir of a Girl Who Yearns to Box, with Deirdre Gogarty, Ireland’s first female world boxing champion— and Ottawa University: 150 years of Significance with Dave Malone. Her work has appeared at JaneFriedman.com, Writer’s Digest, Boxing.com, Suzanne Kingsbury, Catching Days, Hippocampus Magazine, and the Virginia Quarterly Review.
Darrelyn Saloom
Latest posts by Darrelyn Saloom (see all)
  • Memoir Notebook: Sweet Talk - July 24, 2015
  • Memoir Notebook: Too Close for Comfort - July 17, 2015
  • Memoir Notebook: The Worst Kind of Luck - October 31, 2014

Filed Under: Blog, poetry

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About Darrelyn Saloom

Darrelyn Saloom is co-author of My Call to the Ring: A Memoir of a Girl Who Yearns to Box, with Deirdre Gogarty, Ireland’s first female world boxing champion— and Ottawa University: 150 years of Significance with Dave Malone. Her work has appeared at JaneFriedman.com, Writer’s Digest, Boxing.com, Suzanne Kingsbury, Catching Days, Hippocampus Magazine, and the Virginia Quarterly Review.

Comments

  1. Jodi Paloni says

    August 3, 2012 at 8:39 am

    Beautiful!I love the way you move in and out of interior and exterior landscape.

    Reply
    • Darrelyn Saloom says

      August 3, 2012 at 8:55 am

      Thank you, Jodi. I’m still moving in and out of my sleepy world down here on central standard time. Nice to wake up to your comment.

      Reply
  2. Barbara Weibel says

    August 3, 2012 at 9:46 am

    Powerful imagery, as always Darrelyn.

    Reply
    • Darrelyn Saloom says

      August 3, 2012 at 10:04 am

      Thank you, Barbara. I’d love to hear from you. Where are you in world these days?

      Reply
  3. Jessica Fern says

    August 3, 2012 at 9:55 am

    I want a tall glass of cool water and a bath after reading this. I know that dry, dusty heat so well. You describe it beautifully.

    Reply
    • Darrelyn Saloom says

      August 3, 2012 at 10:08 am

      Thanks, Jessica. Hope you quench your thirst.

      Reply
  4. L. L. Barkat says

    August 3, 2012 at 9:57 am

    Maybe if our landscape hears your landscape’s incantations…

    ah.

    We’ve got so much rain we hardly know what to do with it. When is someone going to invent a rain funnel?

    Reply
    • Darrelyn Saloom says

      August 3, 2012 at 10:11 am

      It stormed after I wrote this piece. Chance of rain every day this week. 🙂

      Reply
  5. Dave Malone says

    August 3, 2012 at 10:11 am

    Laura, oh, how the Ozarks need that funnel to lead straight down here…

    And that last magnificent sentence, Darrelyn, is a reminder of why I read every damn thing you write. So so rich and poetic.

    Reply
    • Darrelyn Saloom says

      August 3, 2012 at 10:35 am

      Thanks, Dave. I’d been thinking of you and everyone out west when I used the word “wide-spread.”

      Reply
  6. Maureen Doallas says

    August 3, 2012 at 10:47 am

    What a lovely new voice here at TSP! Beautifully complemented by Collette’s photo. “Incantations” is such an evocative word.

    A headline in today’s paper indicated we’re 7.5 inches below the level we need to overcome the drought here. I’ll take steady showers but not more of that phenomenon known as derecho.

    Reply
    • Darrelyn Saloom says

      August 3, 2012 at 11:33 am

      Thank you, Maureen. And thanks to Collette.. I love her photo, too.

      Reply
  7. Glenda Bryan says

    August 3, 2012 at 10:59 am

    Beautiful!!

    Reply
    • Darrelyn Saloom says

      August 3, 2012 at 11:34 am

      Thanks for stopping by, Glenda. So glad you enjoyed.

      Reply
  8. Deirdre Gogarty says

    August 3, 2012 at 11:27 am

    Another wonderful piece. I could taste the dust in my mouth. Love the line “teaming with appetizers of baby rabbits and mice.” Though is does make me cringe for the poor little critters!

    Reply
    • Darrelyn Saloom says

      August 3, 2012 at 11:39 am

      I’m surprised you liked that line, Dee. You can’t swat a fly but can knock out an opponent in a boxing ring. 🙂

      Reply
  9. Jenny F says

    August 3, 2012 at 11:44 am

    This piece is beautiful. I’m blinking the dust out of my eyes.

    I’m not at all surprised the rain arrived the next day. Your words are more powerful than a rain dance!

    Reply
    • Darrelyn Saloom says

      August 3, 2012 at 12:03 pm

      Ha! Maybe I can coax someone to fly me out west. Thanks, Jenny.

      Reply
  10. Jack C says

    August 3, 2012 at 12:21 pm

    Reading this makes me thirsty too… for more pieces from Darrelyn!

    Reply
    • Darrelyn Saloom says

      August 3, 2012 at 1:15 pm

      Thank you, Jack. I appreciate your kinds words and for taking the time to leave a comment.

      Reply
  11. Ayse Su says

    August 3, 2012 at 1:04 pm

    I felt like I was in your backyard staring at the sky, hoping for it to rain. The frog symphony sounds amazing too 🙂

    Reply
    • Darrelyn Saloom says

      August 3, 2012 at 1:20 pm

      I hope you will sit in my backyard one day. You may be surprised how loud frogs and locusts sing around here.

      Reply
  12. Danny says

    August 3, 2012 at 4:03 pm

    think you can get it to stop raining now?

    Reply
    • Darrelyn Saloom says

      August 3, 2012 at 4:54 pm

      I’ll try, honey. 🙂

      Reply
  13. Ro Rainwater says

    August 3, 2012 at 4:22 pm

    As usual, Darrelyn, you take me with you wherever you go when you write! I’m in the center of a dryness, and a hotness, and a weariness of waiting for rain, reading this. I smell the dust, and I thirst for rain. I am your farm as you leave dusty footprints in my dirt. I am the seeds of unsprouted wildness, waiting patiently for my thirst to be slaked, and my green to burst out. Thank you for transporting me there!

    Reply
    • Darrelyn Saloom says

      August 3, 2012 at 4:57 pm

      Oh, wow, thank you, Ro. 🙂

      Reply
  14. Hilary Dartez says

    August 3, 2012 at 4:49 pm

    Love your writing Darrelyn. It is so soothing in how you describe your environment. Reminds me to take it all in every chance I get.

    Reply
    • Darrelyn Saloom says

      August 3, 2012 at 5:00 pm

      Thank you, Hilary. Drop by when the rain stops, and we’ll walk to the backside of the farm.

      Reply
  15. Sally G. says

    August 3, 2012 at 9:26 pm

    I enjoyed every word and am thirsty for more.

    Reply
    • Darrelyn Saloom says

      August 4, 2012 at 1:01 am

      You are always thirsty, Sally. That’s what I love about you.

      Reply
  16. Carolyn says

    August 3, 2012 at 10:23 pm

    As always, I enjoy reading the wonderful way you put your experiences and feelings into words.

    Reply
    • Darrelyn Saloom says

      August 4, 2012 at 1:04 am

      Thank you, Carolyn. I’m so glad you enjoyed. Would love to have another reunion at Don’s.

      Reply
  17. Jinalo says

    August 3, 2012 at 11:35 pm

    Beautifully written. Reading it felt like a meditation.

    Reply
  18. Darrelyn Saloom says

    August 4, 2012 at 1:07 am

    Thank you, Jinalo. Such a wonderful name. 🙂

    Reply
  19. Hunter Holland says

    August 4, 2012 at 5:21 am

    Absolutely wonderful! I agree with Deirdre, I love when you refer to the rabbits and mice as being appetizers for the Hawk, great poem!!

    Reply
    • Darrelyn Saloom says

      August 4, 2012 at 10:25 am

      Thank you, Hunter. So kind of you to stop by and leave a comment. I’m thrilled you enjoyed the piece.

      Reply
  20. Elenor Driggs says

    August 4, 2012 at 11:36 am

    I stumbled onto this website by accident and I must say, what a pleasant surprise!

    Reply
    • Darrelyn Saloom says

      August 4, 2012 at 11:43 am

      Glad you stumbled in, Elenor. Thanks for reading and leaving a comment. Hope you’ll come back to visit.

      Reply
  21. cynthia newberry martin says

    August 4, 2012 at 1:18 pm

    In the first four paragraphs I can feel the world drawing in and drying up. And then bam, with the first word of the last paragraph–fat–I can feel and see those think droplets of water that you imagine. Lovely.

    Reply
    • Darrelyn Saloom says

      August 4, 2012 at 1:29 pm

      Aw, thank you, C. So glad you enjoyed. Seems the clouds have been paying me back for calling them “stingy.” It’s been raining every day.

      Reply
  22. Christian Allman says

    August 4, 2012 at 4:17 pm

    I can almost feel the cloud-heavens open up to bathe you in praise for your poignant, but humble incantations. You just may have conjured the key that unlocks the sky.

    Reply
    • Darrelyn Saloom says

      August 4, 2012 at 6:29 pm

      You are so kind. Thank you, Christian.

      Reply
  23. Joe Ponepinto says

    August 4, 2012 at 5:59 pm

    Love the imagery. So much more than visual. Excellent poem, Darrelyn.

    Reply
    • Darrelyn Saloom says

      August 4, 2012 at 6:30 pm

      Hey, Joe. Thanks for stopping by. So glad you enjoyed.

      Reply
  24. donna says

    August 5, 2012 at 8:42 am

    “Nothing but dirt scents the air” is very powerful for me! Gives me access to so many memories that my words don’t recall… I can’t even describe what that line did to and for me. but, thank you.

    Reply
    • Darrelyn Saloom says

      August 5, 2012 at 10:18 am

      My pleasure, Donna. I love the power of words to evoke memories. Sounds like you’ve been through a few droughts.

      Reply
  25. donna says

    August 5, 2012 at 12:04 pm

    Let’s just say there are a lot of ‘bald spots’ inside my memory! ;o)

    Reply
    • Darrelyn Saloom says

      August 5, 2012 at 1:08 pm

      I hear you. Mine, too. 🙂

      Reply
  26. David Hunter says

    August 5, 2012 at 1:36 pm

    Yes. This is rain; the cleanser, the obscurer, the washer-away of life’s dirt. This is rain. Lovely post, Darrelyn.

    Reply
  27. Darrelyn Saloom says

    August 5, 2012 at 2:25 pm

    Nice! Thank you, David.

    Reply
  28. Cindy Bullion says

    August 5, 2012 at 4:38 pm

    Darrelyn, I love this! I can really relate to it too! Thanks for putting this snippet of what drought is like into words for us.

    Reply
    • Darrelyn Saloom says

      August 5, 2012 at 4:53 pm

      Oops, just saw the rest of your comment. 🙂

      Reply
  29. Cindy Bullion says

    August 5, 2012 at 4:40 pm

    ….because you have to know the drought to understand the blessing of rain! Thanks!

    Reply
    • Darrelyn Saloom says

      August 11, 2012 at 2:12 pm

      🙂

      Reply
  30. Darrelyn Saloom says

    August 5, 2012 at 4:52 pm

    You’re right about that, Cindy. Thanks for stopping by.

    Reply
  31. Deborah cutler says

    August 7, 2012 at 6:14 pm

    Even though you didn’t mention the heat I could still feel it.
    You always bring me back into the moment with your wonderful descriptions. That’s such a nice place to be. For some reason I’ve got to go and get a nice cold glass of water!

    Reply
  32. LeAnne Guidry says

    August 11, 2012 at 12:29 pm

    I love “stingy sky-angels dissipate”. I had to read it again a few times (once out loud just to hear it)
    Loved this piece!!

    Reply
    • Darrelyn Saloom says

      August 11, 2012 at 2:10 pm

      Thank you, LeAnne. Not so stingy lately. 🙂

      Reply
  33. Sandra Ellender says

    August 11, 2012 at 9:44 pm

    I enjoyed every word. Now we need a little less rain. Mushrooms sprouting in the yard and swarms of mosquitoes. Ah…summer in Louisiana!

    Reply
  34. Darrelyn Saloom says

    August 11, 2012 at 10:42 pm

    Five inches this morning! But it sounded great while tucked between my grandchildren under a tin roof. So glad you stopped by, Sandra. Hope you’ll visit again soon.

    Reply
  35. Mary says

    August 17, 2012 at 9:15 pm

    You had me at “underground ant highways.” I smell the dirt and hear the flutter of wings. Wonderful piece.

    Reply
    • Darrelyn Saloom says

      August 18, 2012 at 1:17 am

      Such a lovely comment to read before I fall asleep. Thank you, Mary.

      Reply
  36. Linda Reid says

    August 19, 2013 at 2:25 pm

    Love the poem, Incantations For Rain. Hascwonderful analogy.

    Reply
    • Darrelyn Saloom says

      August 19, 2013 at 2:38 pm

      It’s been a year since I wrote this one. Nice to know it’s still being read. Thanks, Linda. So glad you enjoyed.

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. I am the Rain | TweetSpeak Poetry says:
    August 15, 2012 at 8:00 am

    […] Besides the daisy, I also lost five tomato plants, two eggplant seedlings, two potato hills, and two zucchini vines that just never had a chance. I’m not even going to talk about the grass. The basil and the beets might make it. Might. The thyme and the marjoram are my priority, since their survival this season means years of tasty stir fries and sauces. Overall, the casualties were steep, and I can blame it on the rain. Rather, the lack of rain. […]

    Reply

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