Beneath the Cottonwood Tree by CherryBomb
Winner, KidPub February writing contest
We sit beneath
these cottonwood trees
the grass beneath our legs
releasing breathy gasps.
The scent of rain.
He stands up.
Squelching sounds of mud and wet grass.
His hand moves forward
outside the shadows
into the fog.
Touching the rain.
It’s soft, he says.
And cold.
Pulls his hand back
to grab mine
pull me up
and point forward.
Let’s run, he says.
So we do.
The rain falls against our faces
like a melody.
I hold his hand
steering him
away from old tires
tufts of cactus
and stray rocks.
We stop.
That is, he stops.
I only
stop with him.
His hand drops loose from mine.
Turns to look at me.
White eyes and pale face.
Rain running down his cheeks
like tears.
What does the rain look like?
His voice is as quiet
as silk slippers against the moon
so far away
so distant
so, so quiet.
For I,
have never seen water.
His voice is regretful.
Silence.
I do not reply.
Grab his wrist
and push his palm upwards
at the sky.
Drops pit-patter against his skin.
Do you feel that? I whisper.
The rain is small.
They are individual, each with a story of their own.
But there are
so many.
I take his hand and swing it
forwards
and backwards.
Like we are
swimming.
Do you feel
all the droplets?
There are thousands.
He nods.
Smiles.
He is starting to understand.
I nudge his head back
and poke his cheeks
to open his mouth.
Taste it.
The sweetness of water
mixed in with
the damp scents.
He licks his lips.
Sticks out his tongue.
I want more, he says.
I let go of his hand.
Cup his ears.
Listen.
Listen well.
We crane our necks and squeeze our eyes shut.
Thunder rumbles
and crackling sounds of lighting
bolt through our skin
like god has shaken apart the world
in tense frustration.
The ground shakes.
You can feel it, I whisper.
The air is trembling,
with fear.
He nods.
But,
he says,
why should they?
For
the rain
is only very sad.
I ruffle his wet hair,
grinning.
Almost sadly
but pleased as well.
Quietly,
he sighs in grief,
speaking with wise words.
The storm is raging
so it seems angry.
But when you look closer
it is only sad.
It is desperate.
These words
are too wise
for a child.
I hug him close.
We walk back
to the cottonwood tree
clutching it’s damp bark
and laying in it’s
calm yellow leaves.
The rain is water, isn’t it?
I nod to him.
He hears the rustle
of my head
and coat.
Knows I have agreed.
Then,
He hugs the damp wood of the tree
close to his face.
I think water
is a very pretty thing.
His whisper
is almost lost
among all the sounds.
For his
voice
is like the rain.
KidPub Authors Club members can post their own stories, comment on stories they've read, play on KidMud, enter our contests, and more! Want to join in on the fun? Joining is easy!
Beautiful , just beautiful. It's no wonder you won.
Thank you, Alice! ^u^
*~Captured Dreams~*
Oh wow...this is amazing!! So descriptive and beautiful. I love it!
Thank you so much, Rebecca! :D
*~Captured Dreams~*
I absoulutely agree. This is amazing. Congratulations on winning! "Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration. Accordingly, a 'genius' is often merely a talented person who has done all of his or her homework." ~Thomas Edison~
Thank you, Kirsten! :)
*~Captured Dreams~*
This is just...so sweet and beautiful. Like, I'm in love with this poem. Where's the fave button when you need it?
~sometimes all it takes is a pure obsession to conjure a madman.~
Aww, thank you so much Kaley! :D
*~Captured Dreams~*
You deserved to win the contest! That was amazing!- Panthera tigris tigris (Grace) Something lurks in the shadows.... Beware the Black Claws! http://www.kidpub.com/book-page-or-chapter/black-claws-saga-book-1-shado...
Thanks, Panthera! :)
*~Captured Dreams~*
Cherry, I wish I could fave this. I really do. It's amazing. The flow of the poetry, and all the feels (*gets blown away*)
Amazing, Cherry. Amazing.
-People just suck in general.- ~Lena
Thank you, Jill. :D Seriously, it means so much. <3
*~Captured Dreams~*
That was an awesome poem! Loved it! Congrats on winning, too! You should enter in more contests, I wouldn't be surprised if you won!
Yep, I've been trying to enter a bunch of contests when I have the time to. xD Thank you, Cate! :D
*~Captured Dreams~*
So I'm seriously annoyed about the fact I never found out about that contest, but to be perfectly honest with you, I don't think I would've stood a chance.
This is so perfect in every way.
/glompsyou/
Congratsianya Cherry.
If you notice this notice you will notice that this notice was not worth noticing.
Aww, really? o_e That stinks; I always just have to click on the Contests tab to check if they have any new contests. xD Hopefully you won't miss any more. (and no, you definitely would have a chance. A pretty big chance, at that. ^u^)
Thank you so much. ^o^ Also, did you just invent a new word? XD
*~Captured Dreams~*
-straightens back-
I did indeed.
If you notice this notice you will notice that this notice was not worth noticing.
This is soooo good! I wish I could favorite it!
Thank you, Eira! :)
*~Captured Dreams~*
IT IS SO AMAZING! The best poem I have EVER read. You should definetly make more poems! This poem is beautiful!
Thank you very much! ^u^ Yep, I've made a lot more poems this this one. :)
*~Captured Dreams~*
I know this post is over a year old, but I saw it on the contest page and I had to read it. I love this :)
I was really suprised when this popped up in my track, ahaha. xD Thank you! o//-//o
*~Crossroads~*
lost for words, this is so beautiful
You are being watched. crackle crackle THE COMUNICATION HAS ENDED
thank you!
*~Crossroads~*