Warmer, With Rain

Saturday, the sun appeared, muted and pastel, 

surrounded by wisps of clouds

in lavender and mauve, while contrails

darted across the sky, bursting 

streaks of pink and coral.

This morning, the clouds roll in,

blue-black ink spreading across wet paper,

pouring their color over the land.

Sunshine on a Cloudy Day

After a couple weeks of hot, dry sun-baked days, the clouds finally rolled in 

to bring us respite, complete with cooler air and a bit of rain.

Last evening, for the first time in a long time, I heard thunder 

in the distance and went to bed to enjoy its sound and 

of the light percussion of the rain on the window.

Sunday morning was cloudy, but clouds parted briefly

to allow a bit of sun to illuminate the light stanchions

in the Speedway Center parking lot.

A Gray Blanket

When the day started. I looked out my window 

to see beautiful sunlit clouds passing over,

with warm temperatures to match the season. 

A bit later, an underlying blanket of gray 

came in, hiding the sun and the cumulus clouds. 

They didn't bring much rain, however, 

just a shower of fat, sloppy raindrops that made 

big bubbles in the puddles for faeries to ride in.

Now, as the evening brings cooler temperatures,

the trees are dancing a dervish with the wind,

pushing out the warmth, bringing rainfall

heavier and more insistent than earlier.

This time last year, we had been under drought 

conditions since April. For now, I will enjoy the shower

and look forward to any storm.

The Color of Clouds

For the past several weeks, I have been attending a small painting class downtown 

at the Herron School of Art and Design, on the IUPUI campus.

It has been interesting to see the displays of student projects that have

been hung in various spots throughout the building.

Among the ones I saw tonight was this project that I assume was meant

to  demonstrate the effect of reflected light on a surface.

I couldn't see inside the cones other than for some bits of solid color

at the scalloped edges of the shapes. The color inside each reflected 

a pastel version of itself onto the cone above.

As pretty as it is, it could make a really stunning effect

if enlarged to spread over a bigger surface.

This is to prove that digital images can be grainy. 

The photographer (me!) insisted on recording for posterity 

the reflection of moonlight on the edges on clouds.  

It looked to me like a milky streak in a chunk of blue agate.

Washy Color

Someone had taken a broad wet brush, full of watercolor, 

and spread it across the sky, leaving a wash of

inky lavender. Here and there, a faint tinge of pink broke through, 

what was left of the sun's light after a cloudy day.

Cloudy Reflection

When I stood on the little bridge at the Coke Field, 

I saw this cloud admiring its reflection 

in the creek. It was a bright sunny day, made

even more surprising by the contrast between the

clouds and sky and the ground below. 

Puffy the Sunshine Slayer

The day was sunny, the sky was full of beautiful, 

puffy clouds of the kind you see in paintings.

During my break I went out for a walk, a nice breeze 

pushing the clouds eastward, towards us. I knew

it would be likely to rain before I got home.

The sun did hold until I got downtown,

its rays bending and bouncing around the clouds

that had converged over the evening commuters.

The rain started to fall as I was riding the bus home.

A real gully washer, it only lasted a few

minutes and, by the time I was dropped off

at the corner, I was greeted by the sun.