Near Miss Poem by Dennis Lange

Like white balloons, the best surprise -
Clouds! Clouds today in our dry skies!
They clumped in groups like friends who meet;
Grew gray with promise of a treat.

Then, past a distant hill that rings,
They dropped a curtain of wet strings.
The air turned fresh with smell of rain,
Like sweet scents from a southern swain.

The thunder rumbled; smiles then spread.
As wonder widened, hope was bred.
The air turned cool, as fresh as mint.
We waited for the rain's descent.

We held our breath and watched the sky
And saw the clouds go floating by,
Some east, some west, with us between.
Some disappeared, no longer seen.

Like gray balloons that lose their air
And sink to ground, to child's despair,
To sink our hopes, to bring a groan -
The dreadful drought goes on and on.