Rain Finally Arrived

After weeks of drought and days of earth-scorching temperatures, it finally rained late this evening. The big drops fell with a rhythmic thud, dancing on the deck temporarily, to be then soaked by the cracked earth with a thirst that evaporated them with a hiss as soon as they hit the ground.

A mist rose from the yellowed grass like a mystical tropical jungle. Eventually a sheen of droplets coated the shriveled green leaves and washed the dust off.

The distant lightning illuminated the forest with a ghostly glow. The animals crawled out of their burrows and the woods came alive. Crickets, tree frogs, bull frogs from the nearby pond, owls and other creatures were chirping and concerting in unison the joy of being alive and finally hydrated again to life from the scorching dust.