Sunshine *

I'm treasuring the sunshine, *
its sparkling, shining rays * *
have kissed these golden stars, * * *
and now their faces glow * * * *

Bottled up with lighted smile, * * *
overflowing in endless glee
they tell me of the joy of day * *
Teaching blinded eyes to see

joy in today.
joy in every day.

Amidst the Storm

Raindrops lightly fall from the sky; a radiant sky half concealed by a dark, billowy cloud. Unfurling its arms to stretch from one corner of the sky to the other, a blanket of black slowly swathes the sky. Its watery tears drop down to the parched ground one by one, quickening into a torrential downpour. Moans and groans effuse from the depths of the growing darkness, casting a bleak shadow on sunlit hopes. One small hole in the clouds permits a single shaft of sunlight to pierce the darkness: a ray of hope amidst the storm.

Carrying the tempest as if with wings so swift, the wind wooshes through the trees. Bending and swaying, the old trees creak back and forth, their leaves rustling and quaking on each limb. Tugged and thrashed by the uproarious storm, leaves break from their comfortable perch and drift with the wind to places unknown.

Eight rows of clothes still hang on the line, having basked in the bright sunshine only minutes before. Now, drenched from the rain, they whip, tangle, and lash in the roaring wind. Seeking to throw them to the ground, the mighty gusts nearly tear the clothes apart. But, pinned securely to the line, they cling and do not let go.

Sheets of rain continue to pelt the earth, filling every crack and crevice. Water spills down the hills and winds through the valleys below. Dry, cracked, and deficient of water, the remains of a crooked creek rapidly fills, overflowing its shallow banks to gurgle and splash through the rough, rocky terrain. Surrounding trees soak up its cool, energizing flow with glee. Their roots plunge deeper, eagerly surging toward the reservoir containing long-awaited refreshment. Their limp arms find renewed strength to lift up their hands to the sky; each head turned expectantly toward the light.