The Dance Of The Cape Robin Poem by Daleen Enslinstrydom

For days now the rain wants to fall,
clouds hang heavy and sombre in the sky
and there is a feeling of humidity and expectation.

At dusk the swallows dive and turn
through the grey air
and the rain-lilies are flowering
as a promise of the coming rain.

When the thunder rattles in the distance
we do observe a display of flashing lightning
and it is as if it’s a background
to the concert of the Cape Robin
where he is dancing on the telephone line
and shakes and vibrates his body
with the first drops that comes splashing down

and dozens of speckled sparrows and yellow weavers
gather twittering on the grass
to peck up seeds and small bugs
while small fountains
are forming everywhere

and the bolts of lightning are coming closer and closer
and the rain starts to pour down with intensity
when all of the birds fly up to find shelter
while drops of rain rattle like drums
on the sink roof

and millions of small balls of hail
pour down from the sky
and hurried by the wind
drops run through the new leaves
of the old oak tree
and they drip like nectar to the ground.

When the clouds dissipate
the smell of rain
hangs refreshing in the air
and all the small birds are pecking
in the back-yard
as if they still have been right there

and the buds of flowers hang heavy
and some are partly shattered
but they rise again
with the first rays of the sun
and waving they dance
along with the Cape Robin
that is ending his rain dance.