This poem came meandering into my mind as I lay in bed listening to the rain fall against the window. It is one of my great delights in this life, to lie with nothing to do and just listen to the rain–but, I am an introvert and glory in staying indoors anyhow, bonus when the skies are grey and there’s lovely pitter-pattering going on to aid me in my random musings. As I lay there, I thought about all of the extroverts in my life who only ever cancel plans when the weather’s bad, and this poem was born.
Blame it on the Rain
Listening to the rain fall outside this morning
I think about how easy it is for us to isolate
when the weather is bad or we don’t feel good
and wish it would just rain every day for a month
so those who struggle with self-imposed boundaries
can just stay in and curse the weather
rather than going out and infecting others
[because they feel fine (until they don’t)]
and cursing all of us to further isolation–
and that’s coming from an introvert, so.
(Originally written 3/22/2020)
I invite those who are also writing creatively in response to the pandemic to share their words in the comments below. I am sharing the “poem-a-day” on Instagram and Twitter, as well; follow me @mridleyelmes !
Melissa Ridley Elmes 