I need windscreen wipers for my glasses and a windproof umbrella. My coat needs sleeves with elasticated cuffs to shield my wrists from the chill deluge. I need shoes that don’t let the water in, that are impervious to the puddles. I need to love the rain. I relax into the squall, lift my eyes to the skies, admire the lowering clouds, see them pregnant and heavy with fat, luscious raindrops, relax my shoulders and smile. My fellow commuters, marching head-down across London Bridge might think me mad if they took a moment to look up from their intense march towards the office, the coffee shop, the cafe, the next bus stop. But if they did take that moment to look around them, perhaps that might mean they were rejoicing in Nature in all her English summer unpredictability too?
Lifting my eyes
to the clouds over sky-line
I become raindrops.
This is my first attempt at dVerse Haibun Monday – and how apt! This evening the sky was cloudless as I left London, and it was beautifully warm. This morning – well, it felt like Autumn, with wind, intense rain and to top it all – yep, it was Monday. The haibun does indeed reflect what happened – I realised I was making myself tense and a little bit more than a little bit fed up with fighting the elements, so decided to go with the flow. And believe me, there was a great deal of water swirling in the air and on the pavements!
Thank you to Toni for hosting! I hope my offering is what she is looking for. I’m no expert at haibun, am a little ‘light’ on what a ‘proper’ haibun is like, but I think I’ve gone some way to achieving what has been asked for!
Yokoburi is Japanese for ‘driving rain’. Who knew there were so many words for different types of rain, as Toni kindly shares with us?
Why not join in, or if you don’t feel up to it, at least pop on over and read what others have offered up?
Freya Writes... 
I become raindrops….that is just marvelous! I bought a rain/windproof umbrella several years ago in London during such a rainy time. Specially constructed and engineered to not peel back in hard rain and wind. I love my brolly! The rain in London and surrounding areas can be intense and sudden. And the clouds pregnant with luscious rain drops….oh how marvelous!
Thank you so much! Yes, my friend has one of those umbrellas – I think it’s time to make an investment… 🙂
There is such a lesson in this: I relax into the squall, lift my eyes to the skies, admire the lowering clouds, see them pregnant and heavy with fat, luscious raindrops, relax my shoulders and smile.
If only I could remember to relax into all the little squalls life offers. Love it!
I had not heard of windproof umbrellas, I grew up in Gothenburg and there I learned to use a raincoat and never an umbrella, but I have had my moments of enjoying the raindrops… The last line of the haiku is perfect… a great first attempt, but I knew you could write great prose.
Thank you so much, Bjorn! I think for women with longer hair, an umbrella is more of a necessity – all those hairdos to protect! Yes, the windproof umbrella can be very useful!
Some run from
rain.. some hide from
Sun.. some toes never
feel grass or sand and
some eyes
never
see liGht
allone..
Oh..
NatUre
SinGS Love..:)
I did catch myself (very fleetingly) wishing for a bit of cloud on my train journey home, because the bright sun was making me squint. Then I stopped myself – how ungrateful of me!
To not feel Nature, to not enjoy all her varieties – that’s so sad. Thank you for reading and your poetic response, as always!
SMiLes Freya.. i can reLate..
as i’Ve been on the S.A.D..
seasonal affective disorder
spectrum of craving liGht aWay
from clouds.. and on the opposite
end of the higher functioning Autism
spectrum where a 3 am streetlight
iS like A Sun at mid-day..
and as side note..
i’ve never been
able to touch
man-made
textures ever without
eXtreme discomfort sTiLL..
but i FeeL pleaSure equAlly
inTense.. aS alWays mY Friend..
iT is what iT iS.. as dreAm.. oh..
and nightmare2… ReaL NoW..
LiGht and
DArk miX
for Rain..:)
(;.. ps.. WiNks.. i
reAlly liKe thiS
prompToo.. hehE.:)
I have witnessed people I know live life with that heightened sensory perception – it must be exhausting at times. I struggle with bright, artificial light, particularly in supermarkets – it sometimes gets so bad that I can’t actually ‘see’ what I’m looking for. But as you say, the intensity of pleasure is somewhat of a consolation.
Amen..:)
Wonderful first haibun! I do hope you come back for the next one. I enjoyed this. Our attitude about the weather really does make all the difference, doesn’t it? (But I’d still like something to keep the raindrops off my glasses!)
Thank you, Linda! Yes, the rain on my glasses is the frustrating part. I took mine off this morning – I’m lucky that my eyesight is OK enough to be able to do that! I do agree – our attitude to the weather does make all the difference 🙂
This is a great response Freya. I love the way you write…you capture the atmosphere so beautifully. Hope you managed to dry out when you reached home.
Thank you so much, Michael! To me it seemed very ‘factual’ when reading others… but maybe that’s just more my style!
We all do it our way Freya….yours is unique to you….
Thanks for reminding me to look up and see those fat and luscious rain drops. Your ending haiku is beautiful with I become raindrops. The blending with nature at the end, made this a lovely haibun to read. Thanks for joining us.
Thank you, Grace. Looking up also helps to brings a halt to those constant thoughts that run round your head – at least that’s my experience!
“I become raindrops” — YES! This is so me! I love to become one with the rain!
It’s so much fun, isn’t it?!
You’ve written a beautiful piece and reminded us not to swim against the stream too much!
Thank you! Yes, it takes more energy – going with the flow sometimes, accepting, can be more relaxing!
“I become raindrops.” That is just beautiful! 🙂
Thank you, Josslyn!
You’re welcome! 🙂
I think I’ll always remember your haiku when I think of the rains in England.. look way up above the skyline and become a part of it..lovely!
Thank you so much! I am honoured 🙂
Wow, Freya, that was me many years ago! London Bridge on a rainy day! Your haibun brought it all back to me. I’ve given up on umbrellas now I live in the countryside. I just put my hood up and get wet – the final line of your haiku is superb!
Ah, the joys of London! I do enjoy not needing an umbrella when tramping around the countryside! Thank you 🙂
🙂
bowled me over with this one Freya and I shared that rainy day – brought the reader along here with every puddle. Magnificent imagery and image.
Thank you so much!
Becoming the raindrop expresses your understanding of it and its purpose… your purpose! I love the progression of this to that perfect moment of becoming. Well crafted, Freya!
Thank you so much, Walt!
I love the progression in this, and how the change in perspective shifted everything so radically
Thank you, Rommy 🙂
Gorgeous. For a first-time haibun you have done a superb job.
Thank you, Viv 🙂
“I become raindrops” — that is such a brilliant phrase and thought.
Thank you, Misky!
I like this alot. Well written.
Thank you!
I like your idea of going with the flow…like a raindrop 🙂
I’m pleased that you enjoyed it 🙂
You are the rain!! Beautiful!
Thank you so much!
You’re welcome!
A good read – both enjoyable and thought-provoking.
Thank you, Rosemary