The Former Rain

By Douglas L. Talley

Once upon the children’s bedtime

the ark again appeared.

We made it from a cardboard box

and something of good cheer.

All heaven smiled upon our labor

to make a box a boat

and fill it with stuffed animals

and make it fit to float.

And when the animals settled in

the children climbed aboard,

first Shannon, Anna, then little Matt,

as bidden by the Lord.

My wife was lightning, wind, and thunder.

I was howling rain.

We whirled the boat from side to side

as though a weather vane,

and it seemed the children’s laughter,

itself a falling rain,

made a rainbow ‘round the house

to alleviate all pain.

And when the children’s laughter died,

it did not die in vain,

but fashioned love within their eyes

where rainbows yet remain.