PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson
Last night, outside my bedroom window
the rain serenaded
a pitter patter lullaby to wash the day away
while I waited for gutter music
my favorite nocturne
when raindrops slide down, down, down
the roof
like children on a playground
each little raindrop
meandering along a metal path until
it plinks like a hundred tiny triangles
crescendos
and brings dreams of childhood
when I first listened to the rain
outside my bedroom window
twenty thousand nights later
I wake to sunshine
and think, “Life is good.”
THE END
86 Words
Thanks for the photo prompt, Dale Rogerson! I zoomed in straight to the gutter, which brought back memories of listening to the rain when I was a little girl. 🙂
Friday Fictioneers is a compilation of writers from around the world who gather online weekly, guided by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. The challenge? To write a story in 100 words or less based on a new photo prompt.
To read more stories in an online flash fiction anthology by Friday Fictioneer authors, click:
I loved “gutter music”
Gutter music is still one of my favorite sounds, Neil. Thank you!
I could hear the sounds rain makes as it comes in contact with solid things. I find it calming. Things quiet down. Just like snow.
Ah yes! Snow! There’s a whole other story there. Just thinking of that silence calms me. (Cools me, too, amidst the 100+ degree temps here in Dallas!)
Dear Jan,
I awoke to the same serenade this morning. Lovely poem. I liked gutter music, too.
Shalom,
Rochelle
I don’t get to hear this music nearly enough here in Dallas, Rochelle. It’s one of the things I miss about Fayetteville–the beautiful, long days of rain.
Lovely lyricism to this piece, Jan.
Thank you, Josh!
I’m with you Jan, the sound of rain against the window (or in my case the holiday caravan roof) is a soothing childhood memory.
I used to live in a house with a metal roof–a perfect amplifier of the music I loved. Lucky you!
Now that I live in the south of France, the sound of rain makes me homesick!
I love the poem.
My journey is not nearly as “romantic” as yours, CE. I can say the same, but insert “Texas” in place of France. 🙂
Rain on the roof just makes me think how much it will cost to fix.
The sound, the scent, the sight of rain. It certainly evokes different feelings in each of us!
A lovely lyrical celebration of rain, and of a long life lived with joy. What a great affirmation of the beauty of life!
Thank you, Penny! As long life lived with joy indeed! 🙂
Beautiful lyrical poem. Loved some words such as plink, nocturne , pitter patter lullaby , guitter music .
Thank you, Neel. I believe the “sound” of words can add “sound” to our writing. 🙂
Loved the sight of rain splattering on the ground, the day washed clean. Thanks for recalling memories
We wrote in different ways about the passage of life, with rain and rainbows, Michael. 🙂
Lovely poem Jan, who doesn’t love these musical sounds that rain drops make.
Thank you, Anurag. Nature has such beautiful sounds!
A musical treat, rain is the life line of humanity so make every drop count.
I often tend to feel this sentiment here in Dallas. Rain’s scarcity makes me appreciate and look forward to every teasing drop. Thanks for reading and commenting, James!
Wonderfully descriptive Jan
Thank you, Keith. 🙂
I love the image of raindrops in a gutter pipe as little children sliding down a slide. I also like the circular structure of the poem : how you begin, listening to the rain today, and end, listening as a child. And we see that it is good.
This is beautiful. The words are lyrical and make me think of and long to hear rain.
Loved the words you used!
“Gutter music” was killer! 😀
Absolutely beautiful, Jan.
Love that you focused on the gutter… these prompts are great to see what people see!
Beautifully poetic, Jan. Made me remember enjoying the rain on a hot summer day in Minneapolis when I was a little girl.
Just lovely, totally evocative of the comforting sound of rain from inside a warm and peaceful home.
Wonderfully lyrical.