February Rain

Gray morning clouds foretell
a chilly day
and rain.

Winter angels carry
cold raindrops
depositing them
on Las Vegas
sidewalks and streets.

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Comfort Rain

The pitter-patter of raindrops
on the cement outside my front door
takes me back to my childhood.

Walking home from school in the rain,
wrapping my books in my coat so they won't get wet,
jumping in every puddle on my way home,
and soaking myself to the bone.

When I got home
my mother had me take off my wet clothes
wrapped me in Grandma's patchwork quilt
(the one that always smelled like moth balls),
fixed me a cup of hot chocolate--
with whole meilk and real Hershey© chocolate--
gave me a hot bath,
and put me to bed.

Never mind that I had homework to do,
the important things was
that I didn't catch my death.

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November Rain

A pigeon baths
in the cold November rain,
fluffing its feathers
and cleaning it wings.

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Morning Rain

Inhale the morning
the fresh scent of rain washing
the dust from the air.

I also posted this in the journal, Writing in Snow,  under the folder Awardicon Items, in my writing.com portfolio. Visit My Portfolio @ Writing.Com

Saturday Morning

Wind whispering through palm fronds
Gray clouds and sunshine
It rained early this morning

I, also, posted this in the journal Writing in Snow, under the folder Awardicon Items, in my writing.com portfolio.Visit My Portfolio @ Writing.Com

Rainy Tuesday

I meditate 

On the sound of raindrops 

Striking the asphalt 

Of Sunrise Avenue. 

Rain at last! 

Cleaning the air, 

Sending chills of joy 

Through my mind. 

I intone a prayer of gratitude 

For this rainy Tuesday. 

Happy Friday

Happy Friday! 

It rained last night 

Clearing the air 

And making breathing easier. 

Happy Friday! 

It rained this morning 

Cooling the air 

And making it a pleasant day 

To write poetry about the rain. 

Creative Saturday: Raining on my Muse

Jalál (Glory), 12 Mulk (Dominion), 173 BE - Saturday, February 18, 2017 CE about 12:55 PM Pacific Standard Time 

Rainy Saturday 

Creative meditations 

Falling on my muse 

It's a cloudy creative Saturday here in Las Vegas. The temperature is about 51 degrees with cold wet drops falling onto the tarmac in front of my apartment. The cars passing in front of the building sound as if they are moving through water. The street is wet but not flooded. I know that some of the other streets have standing water. I haven't driven the car today; however, this isn't necessary to know what the streets are like. I've lived in Las Vegas long enough to know how the water stands in the streets and the way it affects traffic. 

It Rained Yesterday

Jamal (Beauty), 3 Jalál (Glory), 173 BE - Sunday, April 10, 2016 about 12:48 PM Pacific Daylight Time

It rained yesterday,
an on and off rain all day
washed the cars
parked across the street
and in the alley.

It rained yesterday,
a gentle rain
that didn't flood
the streets
in my neighborhood.

It rained yesterday,
it cleaned the air
for a little while
and left clouds
covering the Las Vegas sky.

Autumn Rain

Fidal (Grace), 9 Mashíyyat (Will), 172 BE - Tuesday, October 6, 2015 about 6:07 PM Pacific Daylight Time

Yesterday it rained all day
From first light until after midnight.

The thunder rolled,
the lightning flashed,
and flash flood warnings
were proclaimed
on every television station.

The scent of rain
washed the air clean
to start the day
fresh and bright.

This morning
I opened a window
so that I could inhale
the fresh scent
of an autumn morning.

An Autumn Afternoon in Las Vegas

Jamal (Beauty), 7 Mashíyyat (Will), 172 BE - Sunday, October 4, 2015 about Sunset Pacific Daylight Savings Time

It's October and fall has finally came to Las Vegas. The temperatures are in the double digits. It is cooler during the day and the night. This week rain showers are predicted for Sunday and Monday, but I didn't encounter any rain while I was driving across Las Vegas.

Autumn afternoon
double digit temperatures
under cloudy skies.

I saw dark rain clouds this morning when I was driving to the west side of town. It didn't rain in the area of town I was in, but that doesn't mean it didn't rain somewhere in Las Vegas. I haven't turned on the television, so I don't know if it rained anyplace in town or not.

I have too much work to get distracted by the television. I have to stop writing in a few minutes and fins something to eat. I brought some food home with me from my lunch, which I might eat. I was going to save it for breakfast; however, I'm getting hungry and since I may be up all night I should eat something substantial.

Meditation Monday: Meditation on the Rain

Kamal (Perfection), 2 ‘Aẓamat (Grandeur), 172 BE - Monday, May 18, 2015 about 2:03 pm Pacific Daylight Time

Echoes of thunder
Lightning and cold drops of rain
Monday afternoon

On this rainy Monday afternoon I am thankful that the electricity did not go out. I realized, when I saw the flashes of lightning and heard the echoes of thunder, that my flashlights do not have batteries.

Afternoon shower
On a cloudy day in May
Strange thoughts come to mind

What happens if the electricity goes out while I am washing dishes? Even if the flashlight had batteries, it would be out of my reach when I am at the sink. My flashlight is always on my computer desk.

I went to the Laundromat on Friday

Jalal (Glory), 2 Masá’il (Questions), 171 BE - Saturday, December 13, 2014 about 10:45 am Pacific Standard Time

I went to the laundromat on Friday morning after I picked up my eye drop prescription at Smith's Food & Drug store. I knew rain weather report called for rain, but it was my understanding that the rain would not arrive until late afternoon. I figured I would have time to pick up my prescription and finish the laundry before the rains started.

I was wrong! I picked up my prescription and then went to the laundromat. I arrived at the laundromat before the rains started. I put clothes into one triple load machine and blankets in another. Then I went to the change machine to get $5.00 in quarters. Next I put one load of clothes into a single load washer. While the clothes were washing I went next door to Money Tree to get a new card from them because I lost my old one in the move.

I went back to the laundromat without getting wet because it rained. I relaxed a little while I waited for the clothes to finish washing. I took the clothes out of the washers and put them in dryers. Just as the clothes finished drying (about 1:30 pm) it begin to rain. When the clothes were dry, I put them into my push cart, covered them with a couple of sheets, and took them to the car.

After loading the clothes into my car, I drove home in the rain. I unloaded the clothes from the car and put them back into my cart. I pushed the clothes to my apartment, while it was still raining. It did not stop raining until after I got the clothes into the house. Fortunately, the blankets did not get wet. The sheet that did get wet I hung over furniture to dry. I do not have a drying rack in my studio apartment because I do not have room for one.

I am glad I can stay home today and recover from yesterday. I am eating hot homemade chicken soup. I am drinking hot tea or hot coffee. I cannot warm up the apple juice because my microwave throws a breaker when I use it and I do not  have a kettle to heat the apple juice on the stove. I do not want hot apple juice anyway. I would rather drink hot coffee, tea, or water to warm up.

Meditation Monday: Alone on a Rainy Day

Kamal (Perfection), 1 ‘Izzat (Might), 171 BE - Monday, September 8, 2014 about 3:36 pm Pacific Daylight Time

Las Vegas rain

clears the air of summer

and foretells autumn's arrival.

 

It is raining in Las Vegas. I look out  my front window and watch the raindrops his the black asphalt  of Sunrise Avenue. The rain transforms the street into a shiny ebony ribbon.

Each raindrop

carried by an angel

to the thirsty desert soil.

Rain is a necessary danger in the desert. It waters the plants and animals, while threatening them with flash food. There is a flash food watch in effect for parts of Las Vegas and Clark County.

I am alone

watching the rain

and listening to my refrigerator.

I don't mind being alone on a rainy day because I'm not lonely. I can look out the window and envision the angels carrying raindrop to the ground.

Humidity

sweltering and making

me think temperatures are higher.

Meditation Monday: The Rain

Kamál (Perfection), 4 Kamál (Perfection), 171 BE - Monday, August 4, 2014 3:24 pm Pacific Daylight Time

Beautiful raindrops
descend from dark angry clouds
melting desert sand.

As I look out my front door on this rainy Monday, I see light as the sun attempts to break through the charcoal gray clouds. I watch people walk past my door; they are dressed as if they think the rain has stopped for the day. I suspect we will get a few more raindrops before sunset.

Beautiful raindrops
carried to earth by angels
blessing the desert.

The dark gray cloud appear to be angry, but that is an illusion. We associate darkness with human anger, so when it is cloudy we think the charcoal clouds indicate anger. We are putting our human emotion into the clouds when neither the clouds nor nature is angry. Rain is a natural phenomenon, it is a gift from nature to the desert.

Beautiful raindrops
some call them the tears of God
baptizing the Earth.

In the desert rain causes flash flooding, dangerous to anyone stranded in low areas or walking down dry riverbeds. Flash floods are a natural phenomenon we must beware of and try to avoid. On days like this, I think about the homeless who are living in the drainage tunnels that were constructed to prevent flash floods from devastating part of the city. The homeless living in those tunnels are endanger during rainy weather because of the possibility of flash floods.

Beautiful raindrops
both a blessing and a curse
to desert cities.

After Sunset

Jalál (Glory), 4 Ayyám-i-Há (The Days of Há), 170 BE - Friday, February 28, 2014 about 6:37 pm Pacific Standard Time

After sunset
damp air penetrates my bones
is it still raining

Its rained off and on all day here in Las Vegas. On days like this I don't want to do anything except huddle under a blanket.

I'm tired of winter
tired of the dampness and clouds
I want spring to come

I decided to stay home this evening and finish up a few things. I sit down to say prayers and took a short nap, which lasted longer then I planned. Maybe I should set an alarm when I take a nap.

Friday Morning Shower

Istiqlál (Independence), 13 Sulṭán {Sovereignty}, 170 BE - Friday, January 31, 2014 about 7:15 am Pacific Standard Time

I look south, out of the living room window, and watch the charcoal rainclouds as the move across the desert sky. I noticed the clouds earlier, but I didn't realize that it rained until I took some trash out to the garage, saw the rain wet cement, and felt a few drops on my head.

This morning, the rain slipped up on me. It came silently, without the warning of thunder and lightning. That's the way showers come sometimes, the clouds drop their blessed water on the desert without announcing it's coming. It's a wonderful surprise when it happens because it shows that God has a sense of humor and gives us blessings without any warning of their approach.

charcoal gray rainclouds
angels escort each each raindrop
blessing the desert

As I glance out the window, I see white-gray clouds, charcoal gray, and blue sky. I think the rain may have passed, but it could rain again today or the sky could clear and become a beautiful post rainstorm blue. It's too early in the day to say what will happen and I don't have time to check the weather website right now. Maybe later in the day when I've finished writing and taking out all the trash.

Thunderstorm Sunday in Las Vegas

Jamál (Beauty), 14 Rahmat (Mercy), 170 BE – Sunday, July 7, 2013 about 10:23 AM Pacific Daylight Time

We had a small thunderstorm her in Las Vegas, I did not see any lightning, but I did hear thunder and see rain, so I suppose lightning occurred. I turned off the computers, fixed myself breakfast, and sat down on the couch to compose blog entries during the storm. It has stopped raining and I do not hear any more thunder; I think the storm has passed. I will finish this entry and my breakfast before posting this to my blog.

As I look out my window, I can see the limbs of the neighbors’ oak trees waving. I can also see patches of blue sky between the clouds, so it may not rain in my neighborhood any more today. Since I do not hear any thunder grumbling, I am going to put more ice in my coffee and go back to the computers.

I enjoyed the little bit of rain. The rain was gentle and there was not enough of it to flood the area. There could be flash flood warnings for the Las Vegas area, but unless were get more rain I doubt that we have to worry about the flood problem today. I will have to check the local news later to find out if it rained on Mount Charleston or in the canyons surrounding it. They could use some rain up there to help extinguish the Carpenter Canyon fire.

The sound of rain in Las Vegas

Istiqlál (Independence), 7 ‘Alá’ (Loftiness), 169 B.E. - Friday, March 8, 2013 about 1:55 P.M. Pacific Time

It is raining in Las Vegas and it has been raining off and on all day. I was in the kitchen washing dishes and I heard a strange noise that sounded like water dripping. I checked under the sink to see if the pipes has sprung a leak, but that was not the problem. The sound I heard was rain hitting the roof of the patio, I had to laugh. It has been so long since we had a good rainstorm in Las Vegas that I forgot what water sounded like dripping of the patio roof.

the sound of raindrops
dripping off the metal roof
of the patio

Midweek Reflections on Weather

‘Idál (Justice), 14 Mulk (Dominion), 169 B.E. - Wednesday, February 20, 2013 about 6:50 A.M. Pacific Time

According to weather.com the temperature in Las Vegas will be in the high fifties with A.M. showers. I can remember when the only way to get the daily weather forecast was to turn on the television or radio and listen to the news. Now I can find out the weather for Las Vegas or any other part of the country or the world by turning on my computer and going to a website.

I also checked the weather across the country, especially in the central plains. The weather map of that area indicated snow for Kansas and norther Oklahoma. My father's family lives in Kansas, while Mom's relatives live in northern Oklahoma. I was born and raised in Blackwell, Oklahoma, which is close to the Kansas border. I can remember snow storm from my childhood that closed roads and caused brown outs.

I think, the snow storms I remember took place around Christmas or New Year and not in late February. Of course, that was a long time ago and I was a child. Children remember snow storms and bad weather conditions different from the way adults remember them. Still, I think the weather patterns and conditions have change a great deal since I was a child.