Sister Rain Poem by Paul Sebastian

Sweltering in this aggressive drought
Scorching sun withering grass to rot
Smothering haze, city blanketing
Reservoir drying, water rationing
Not bathing: a forced tolerance test
Washing machines take their rest
Women’s kitchen foray:
Cooking just a meal a day

Water beds are drying up
Muddy floors cracking up
Roads simmer like hot plates
Burning tyres smell as they scrape
Cars hurl thick dust into the air
Commuters at bus-stops curse and swear
People hurrying with sweat-dripping faces
Carrying half-empty mineral-water bottles
Freaky weather whiplash: Nature’s due
Eco-imbalance: human deliberate obtuse
Deforestation, concrete jungles,
Man-made pollution of the air,
Man’s disrespect of Nature’s flare:
Man, ere now, made his own snare!

Oh rain! Come again and rain!
Drop your grey veil of fluffy mantle, Sister Rain
Wet the parched earth, let flowers bloom again
Fill up the ponds, catchments, and may rivers flow
Shield Sister Sun’s rage, and let your blessings pour
Cleanse the air and quench this thirsting earth
See children jubilantly play in the rain and dirt
Young lovers dream as rain splatter on window panes
Children under sheets curl up in sound sleep, as it rains

Oh Sister Rain of the eastern sky,
Come! Hear your Sister Earth’s cry
Embrace and comfort her with your love-rain
Let the dry taps and showers spout water again
Flowers, dancing trees and singing birds praise you:
Comforted Mother Nature rejoices in gratitude.