Rapid Shift Of Weather

By skinner_jennifer

Thu, 29 Jan 2026
  • 264 reads
12 comments
 

Those drowsy days will return,

for some a welcome relief...

charged with flaming celestial

heat when humble pleasures

will be restored.

 

Blithe of feline descends from

garden wall, just like rain will

once more fall – in contrast to

sun's steady rising at assured

breaking of dawn.

 

Puss consumes shadows, traces

of sunlight caught in sideways

glance, when sighting ruddock

robin's breast, natural menace

waits in silence – rooted to the

spot, a wild lineage on the hunt.

 

But I! Intensely watch untamed

storm drenching decayed leaves,

no longer sweeping my pathway,

instead: pausing...decomposing,

blended, mulching – embarking

on season's journey into spring,

with swiftness, rapid as a feline's

natural shift.

 

Inspired by the saying:

It's Raining Cats and Dogs.

 

Image was free to use of

decomposing leaves on

pixabay free images.

 

Certificate U
Poem
Poems
Inspiration Point (work that responds to our weekly writing cue)

Comments

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

I like the picture of the gradual decomposing of the leaves.

In Welsh there is the phrase which translated is 'It's raining old ladies and/with sticks'. I was just looking it up as it's always been a puzzle, and saw some suggestion that it is the idea of old ladies banging their stick down. Interesting because 'and' and 'with' are both translated as 'a' but 'with' would have a circumflex ie 'â', and I hadn't realised that that was maybe how it should be written! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Thank you for reading Rhiannon, and your piece of information which I knew nothing about.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Turlough on

Hiya Jenny.

I really like this bit...

 

embarking

on season's journey into spring,

with swiftness, rapid as a feline's

natural shift.

 

It's what I'm doing myself, though it might not look like it to others as I tend to spend most of my days reclining on the settee with books, teapots and cats. I like to think I'm embarking but Priyatelkata says I'm just barking.

Any road, I enjoyed you poem and I hope you're keeping well.

Turlough

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Turlough,

There's nothing wrong with  doing what you enjoy, like kicking back and relaxing with a good book, or just chilling. Come the summer when the sun shines at its warmest, I'm sure you'll be out there with energy that shines, while I'll be the one staying in doors out of the sun doing the chilling. 

It always amazes me how cats can be so swift in movement, going from quite still to a sudden pounce in no time at all. That's how I see our English weather which can change almost instantly.

Glad you liked those lines and thank you not only for reading, but sharing your thoughts too.

By the way I'm well, hope you are too.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by TJW on

I like how you use full frontal words to punctuate the soft unseen and leave it to the imagination.  

V/R

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

That's so kind of you to say you understand where I'm coming from,  I like to leave it up to the reader as to the meaning, but sometimes find that I need to explain because it's not quite clear.

Many thanks for the read and sharing your thoughts.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

It's surprising just how many insects are sheltering in those piles of fallen leaves, more reason to let them lie on the ground undisturbed until warmer weather.

It feels like the season is shifting, birds are singing. Cats are waking up from their long, curled up naps by the radiators. Flaming celestial heat is a great description of last years summer and I wouldn't mind a bit right now, Jenny.

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Jane,

I absolutely agree about the insects sheltering under the piles of fallen leaves. We never cleared our path this winter, but have to be extra careful when walking because it can become slippery when muddy and wet. 

The season does feel like it's shifting into spring, I've noticed when I'm feeding the birds or hanging out the washing. I have to admit that I'm a big fan of the winter and don't mind the cloud and rain, especially now I'm retired, for me it's a pleasure to walk in the cold, as long as I'm wrapped up warm. I do like the spring, but the summer is just too hot for me and drains my energy. I think I must sound like a vampire...I say with a smile smiley because the dark days and clouds cheer me up, it's okay in the sun at this time of the year, but even now I find it blinding when out walking.

Anyway I enjoyed reading your comment and thank you so much for stopping by to read.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by marandina on

That's an atmospheric poem, Jenny. I like the link between animals and the changing seasons. There's a rawness in here

[Is there meant to be an exclamation mark after I at "...But I!.."?]

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Paul, glad you liked this poem and thank you for reading and letting me know.

Yes I put the exlamation mark in, as when I read it, there was a pausing thought when looking out of the window at the dead leaves. Hope that makes sense.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

I love the idea of Spring moving into your garden like a cat! That's brilliant :0) And "consuming shadows" made me think of our (once) feral Rango who is bright orange and glows in the darkness while waiting hopefully for mice by the birdfeeder :0) I like "wild lineage on the hunt" very much. I am sure he thinks that's him

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hello Di, glad you liked those lines. I enjoyed reading about Rango. Thank you for the read and sharing your story.

Jenny.