neck sticky
palms slick
feet bare
waiting in the heat

clouds roll in
little by little
blocking the sunlight
filling the air

people run
scrambling to get inside
screen doors snapping at their heels
I stay put

closing my eyes
smelling the humid air
hearing the thunder growl
the first raindrop hits my cheek

a second hits my eyebrow
a third splashes my neck
the downpour begins
a smile evolves on my lips

hot rain streams down my face
my back
my hair
my toes

my feet fly across wooden decks
gravel roads
concrete slabs
muddy paths

rain cleanses the Earth
sets me free
from the oppressive heat
and leaves me renewed

the air cools down
the rain turns icy
it’s time to go
but we’ll meet again some other day