Weather Report

The rains came and were not purple,
or atomic. The flowers curled and browned
while the rainbow gleamed.
The cows moaned and milk would curdle
in the udder. The roosters crowed and laid
particoloured eggs.

And there had been no warning rumble
no sudden illumination,
no warning lightning,

except a million newsprint jeremiads
that evoked the sound of a
boy crying wolf.

The rains came and did not nourish
aquifers. The rivers slowed and died
into colourful sludge.
The corn cracked and wheat would rustle
with new vermin. The low-road slid and slipped
into puddles and mud.