For a long time we thought this boy
loved only things that fell
straight down. He didn't seem to care
about anything else.
We were afraid he could only HEAR
things that fell straight down!
We watched him stand outside
in rain. Later it was said
he put a tiny pond of rain water
in his wife's ear
while she slept. And leaned over
to listen to it.
I remember he was happiest talking
about all the kinds of rain.
The kind that comes off herons' wings
when they fly up from the lake. I know
he wanted some of that heron rain
for his wife's ear too!
He walked out in spring to watch
the young girls rub wild onion under their eyes
until tears came out.
He knew a name for that rain too.
Sad onion rain.
That rain fell straight down
too, off their faces,
and he saw it.