swollen waters crawl,
chewing the ground,
indisciminately.
it has rained for days.
the flood came once
to gramma's house,
hungry,
dragging sodden memories
into its ravenous gullet,
disgorging someone else's life;
flotsam clinging to the
trees.
inch by inch, it creeps.
wet green grass twists,
between my barefoot toes,
anxious.
we wait on the rainbow.
Tell a story in 55 words. Give it a try or just read more, go see g-man.
It rained about 10 inches the last several days. A river runs through my backyard, where yesterday there was none.
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113 comments:
We've had water flood a couple inches over tile and carpet, but no real devastation of the ravenous gullet.
Well written, as usual, Brian
xo
an "xo" but NOT a stalker, I swear!
Nice Brian. Thanks.
AWW I am going to try this Brian
It's pouring way up here in Montreal too. May the rainbows come soon.
Sad and yet lifely. Wonderful piece.
we lost a fence a few weeks back due to rain. well written Brian!!
This is so good Brian. We lived through this once with our son and daughter-in-law, and you have captured it succinctly and perfectly.
been raining lots here too! we needed it though, and I'm so thankful it's cool enough outside for me to run again!! Hope your rainbow comes soon :)
Scary stuff. I lived across the street from a river and had to sand bag to keep the waters at bay. Hope you get your rainbow.
My 55 is HERE .
you need waders me thinks.
have fun with that
and with 55s
smiles from who else
It has been raining so much around here that they delayed schools in the county next to ours!! Hopefully we will all get a rainbow soon!
We had a beautiful rainbow here on Monday (don't do you any good, eh?). It's been raining in the east, from what I hear.
So cute.. it rhymes.. Mine is up as well..
--Someone Is Special--
Ive always found it funny how water, most of the time so beautiful, can be so destructive....but now that Im writing it, I realize so many pretty things can crush ya..interesting ;)
Striking images, Brian. I should try this, too.
i love the wet grass between my toes, i love waiting for the ranbows, great 55
it is always feast or famine--this summer was so dry and hot and now we are getting monsoons--crazy weather--here's hoping the rainbow shines your way soon
I sure hope it doesn't get any higher!
We have quite the flooding going on here too.
Sometimes rain is just too much of a good thing.
I saw on the news the east coast was getting a lot of rain. We have had very little rain here but we are enjoying sunny, crisp Fall days which I so love.....:-Hugs
sounds like oregon in the winter.
like the 55.
This is so vivid! Great 55!
The water dredges up secrets it was not meant to find. ... After a bone-dry summer, nature thinks it can make up for its naughty behavior in a couple of days. Such a problem child.
Wow, Brian, your descriptions are always so apt,
dragging sodden memories
into its ravenous gullet,
disgorging someone else's life;
These are the best lines I've read for some time! And then tomorrow you will equal or better them, lol!
I am sorry to hear of your troubles...but, wow! Amazing write, Brian. I really like the way your words come together here, if not the idea of you all floating away down the river.
Good luck...I hope you find your rainbow soon.
-C
happy umbrella days to you my friend. I like the first stanza best by the way.
haha jannie...no she knows who she is...and really that is totally what i was afraid of bringing it to the forefront..
SY...you should its a lot of fun...
stven...lol. too true....
me...hopefully it does not get too high here...it would have to come up quite the hill, but...they say we should crest about7-8 feet above flood stage...yikes for many....
I felt like that today I think.Tommorrow will be nice and cool and no rain.Didnt see a rainbow though darn!Very nice Brian.
As for your comment on my blog.I thought of many things with the apples by now.. those carmel and chocolate apples,apple dumplings and apple pie,LOL.Havent decided which one first lol.Im not a big eater even for sweets so I will pick different ones throughout the month.
dude...love your writing...been exploring your blog...awesome stuff ;)
I've heard others saying they can't believe the rain....sounds like it might even be worse than - gasp - living in Washington State!! :) Hope it lets up for you soon!
Lovely words! Hope it stops raining so everyone can stop worrying.
Very nice!
I think my favorite line is "chewing the ground."
Love the imagery.
Thanks for another Friday 55!
Mine's here. :)
You certainly have my sympathies. We went through the flooding around here earlier in the year. Great 55!
Beautifully expressed. Thanks.
All the best, Boonie
In 1978, I faced a flooded situation. I was a child then but cannot forget it.
Your 55er is so real for me. Obviously..
Here is my Haibun in 55 words!
Really good writing here, Brian. I can see, hear, taste, feel and smell the rising river of 1937 flood in Ohio--through your recent experiences
A wonderful marriage of the literal and the metaphorical.
You rock!!!
Joy always,
Susan
Yes, rainbow comes only when it rains... A bit of happiness in times of trouble...
Have a lovely Friday dear Brian,
xo
I certainly hope you're compiling a book with all your work. I'd buy it
you make a flood quite beautiful...
Tense times. Floods are coming more often in the UK nowadays.
A great write.
stunning 55!
wow,hope to rainbow comes soon for you.
We have incessant rain here, but you've put a new slant on it. Thanks.
Two weeks ago Sunday, we had a flash flood...it rained for 10 hours, heavily, the water came up to the front of the house ---18 inches of rain!!!! I posted about it with a photo on my blog. But the case of your 55...these words can mean way more than flood "waters"...and "rain".
Excellent Brian. Thanks for stopping by my 55 and commenting!! You're always so kind.
Wasn't there a movie about that "A River Runs Through It"
sending some of our hesitant fall sun....it's weak, but might help a bit
May the rain stop falling. Beautiful weather here these days.
Mine is at:
http://rnsane.blogspot.com/2010/10/flash-55-friday-another-year-older-and.html
Like the 'sodden memories' -- picture albums and mementos caught in rising water.
at first reading I thought you meant you were on the rainbow, waiting. I still like that idea
That's what it' like today here in my valley.
I read your interview with Bonnie; I think what came through most is your sincerity.
We both had the same theme today...the rain is finally clearing here in NC. The rivers are swollen and you put it into words that fit. Have a (dry) weekend!
♥namaste♥
Rabbit, rabbit.
This is when it's dangerous after such a long time without rain.
Ah Rain ! I Hope It's Eased Today?
Wishing You Rainbows Today.
Last week we had over 4 inches in less than 24 hours. Local flooding and rivers the highest I have ever seen them. It's scary to think how fast things can change....but I'm glad you ended with God's promise..waiting for the rainbow. Have an awesome weekend! But remember what Linus says: don't jump into a pile of leaves with a wet sucker-(Great Pumpkin) :)
It's a beautiful poem Brian. It was raining here as well, finally this afternoon we have some more sun, so sending some sun to VA ... happy day!
Only once have I experienced flooding. It was here in Naples and they had not opened the flood gates in all the canals and the water was up to the door. Scary. It didn't come in, but we were paddling canoes around the neighborhood.
PG
Hi! Brian...
Thanks, for sharing a very descriptive poem about flooding and it effects. Nice use of 55 words too!
DeeDee ;-D
You guys sure have gotten slammed.
We must have gotten about 10 inches...but you make it sound interesting!
We had our deluge earlier in the week. Glad it's over.
"we wait on the rainbow" brought to mind the covenant God made to us. Should we all be trusting enough to wait upon that rainbow.
As always I Love your stories. Even in 55 words or less you draw us in quickly and leave us wanting More!! :-) I'm going have to try this. I could even do it over lunch somedays at work. :-)
Have a GREAT weekend, Brian!!
HUGS,
Coreen
Nice write! The images of water chewing and consuming the land is fantastic, as is your artistry in crafting short fiction.
"Flotsam clinging to the trees"! amazing things to be found there! Thanks.
This is great! I am sooo glad the rain has almost stopped. I LOVE rainbows
Yea Brian, from that interview I figured out who "she" is lol...scary. I stopped participating because it was too much of a hassle. I dont have time like that to visit everyone else...Then the people I normally follow
The power of nature never fails to amaze me (and sometimes scare me). We had a fourteen hour day of rain, but I think we were a lot shy of l4 inches! That's a seriously scary amount of water!
And now that rain is here, along with flood warnings. I'll be waiting for the rainbow too, but in the meantime, best I go tie down the memories. ;-)
Lovely images, Brian. I hope your rainbow arrives soon.
The power of water kinda scares the crap outta me.
Evocative Brian, so well done. We're waiting on the rainbow here after a week of nothing but heavy rains and rising waters.
There has been so much flooding. And it does creep it's way into yards and homes and business...and it steals peace of mind and security.
Beautifully written...!!
Hugs
SueAnn
More life experiences I imagine. You have and had a fascinating one..thanks for sharing.
Lovely. I like that you wait for the rainbow.
now this is poetry! when i grow up i want to write like you Brian... =)
Very lovely. I hope the river stays in the yard and not in your house! High tide here has been a little worrisome, wondering how high its going to get. lol
agh - hopefully the rain stops and the rainbow starts to show up..
love this ... hate rain.. ugh
I don't know, Brian...I seem to remember something about 40 days and 40 nights before you get your rainbow. I'm needing a rainbow in my life right about now.
Some great descriptives here, Brian!
By the way, while we're waiting on rainbows, don't forget the rest of the rainbow.
perfect picturisation of a flood brian.
trisha
http://mydomainpvt.wordpress.com
Gorgeous words. I don't know why but it brought back images of Pakistan...20 million people displaced. Sad to think of so much history and sentimentality turn soggy.
We've got rivers rising now that it's finally reached us.
I can't imagine what it feels like to have treasures, especially photos, swept away into flotsam.
Sounds like you need a vacation to somewhere dry. Hope you see that rainbow soon. Our storms are supposed to be ending this evening woo hoo. Have a great weekend and fantastic 55.
Very nice. I hope everyone that is enduring the flooding gets their rainbows soon.
we got sunshine!
Yes... take the best out of it
... nice 55
i love rain but without flood :) nice one
"dragging sodden memories
into its ravenous gullet"
Wonderful phrase! I love the way you make the flooding river into a true water monster - rivers have that quality of a wild animal that, if pressed into a corner, will strike and even kill.
Sorry to hear your sodden tale, though you've made it worth writing about. Well Done!
Great 55!!!
my is up too!
happy weekend
Hope you´ll see it soon! :-)
Wishing you your rainbow.. very soon.
We are just now seeing the first peek at sun since last Saturday. Time to go sit outside on the swing with my sweetie for a while and enjoy it.
I wish for a rainbow for you very very soon. We got a lot of rain here recently too but not as bad as south of us. Many people had flooded basements...my friend has to gut out her whole basement and everything was ruined. Hope you have some sunshine this weekend! XX
Oooo I always so wait for the rainbow. Very well done. Have a great weekend :)
This reminded me of a story I heard at the beginning of the week about a small town in N.Dakoda that's slowly being swallowed by this lake that has no natural drain off. Every year rain and snow melt cause it to grow and eat a little more of this town and the surrounding country side.
it never stopped raining here all day....
it never stopped raining here all day....
it never stopped raining here all day....
It is raining heavily here but it must be terrible to live on a flood plane.
Loved your descriptive writing......... the ravenous gullet.
Maggie X
Nuts in May
Oh...I think so many people can identify with this. Water so beautiful can be so destructive.
I'm in a "river" of comments here Brian-- Just want to say I hope all is well and the rain has let up.
Happy weekend, jj
wow I love this style, super rhythm with minimal punctuation, and line breaks that blend previous and subsequent meanings.
My kinda poem!
anxious,
HAKAWE,
Dianne
Hope you find that rainbow :)
i'm pretty sick of all the stormy weather too. definitely waiting for a rainbow.
To wait on the rainbow, sounds nice and yet kinda difficult!
Very nice 55 :)
It is a good place to wait -- "somewhere over the rainbow"
for many people in this country and around the world it is becoming an increasing problem.
Truthful, touching, bittersweet 55er tale.
Joanny
There seems to be so many places flooding these days - I hope it hasn't caused too much damage and you get your rainbow. :)
i havnt been in the rain ye
nice poem
):)(:(
a grim recollection of the power of nature!
"we wait on the rainbow"
That is brilliant Brian, and I hope you got one.
I have never experience this myself but I have family that live in North Queensland whom have lived in fear of the rising waters & literally had the water lapping at their door.
The weather beuro here in Australia are saying we are in for flooding rains this summer...am a bit worried about that but I think we will be alright where we are. Fingers, toes & everything crossed.
Beautifully written as per usual Brian!
The rain in Virginia was especially intense. It rained about 12 inches or more in Gloucester.
Oh yes, I always wait on the rainbows!! But now that I am older, I am finding more and more beauty in the rain and dark clouds too.
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