After Rain Happiness is a quality of light A way of seeing In the falling of the long sun The marvellous horizontal shower. The naked tree Sprouts leaves again Earth's inmost sense Burns with a greenish fire. The travelling light knocks At the threshold of the heart Summons essential being To this calm where home need armour self From all that's other. There is a moment in the falling light I stand in the sun Knowing my portion of its blessing Vast as the world. In the ultimate sharing I am content to hold My lease of being, as the leaf That shivers in the sun And scribbles on the air No greater tale Than my most pregnant song. Cathleen Benson |