Written for dVerse Poetics: “Have You Ever
Seen the Rain?” Our host, Lisa, challenges
us to write a poem in any form about weather.
Did ya ever ‘sperience weather so dry that the ground and air crackled and all ya could think ‘bout was bones … the ones ya found buried in Vern Wilson’s barn that drought summer seventeen years ago?
That’s how it was for me and Bucky Berringer and Grady McCallister.
They was human bones, alright, and we covered ‘em up right quick ‘fore ol’ Vern caught us.
Weatherman says rain’s a-comin’. Pappy’s fields been shrivelin’ up somethin’ awful. We need us some good rain, days on days of rain, but all we’re seein’ is damn fire bolts makin’ us twitch.
old barn holds its tongue
lightnin’ digs for the truth ….
somethins’ gotta give
NAR©2026
This is “Have You Ever Seen The Rain” by Creedence Clearwater Revival
Everything on the elephant trunk was created by me, unless otherwise indicate, and may not be used without permission. Thanks for your consideration. NAR©2017-present.
Gripping!
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Thanks so much, Shaun. Great comment!
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I love the voice in this, from start to finish. It took me right there, to that dry, shrivelled old place and the lightning digging for evidence.
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I’m so pleased to know that, Freya! Thanks for your great comments; I’m glad you enjoyed my haibun.
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A very interesting story Nancy
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Thanks, Sadje. I enjoyed writing this one.
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You’re most welcome
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Nancy there is a lot going on in that stretch of desolate land. Love the atmosphere that you conjured in your poem. Maybe flooding will wash those bones away…
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So glad you enjoyed the ‘atmosphere’, Lisa. I enjoy using dialects in some of my stories. There are so many places these days desperate for rain; let’s hope it comes soon. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
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When so much rain is being withheld from so many places, I wonder where all of that water is? You are welcome.
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Love how you interlaced the story of those bones, with that of the drought… the parched earth will keep its secrets until the rains come
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Thanks very much, Björn; it was fun to add a bit of mystery to this story. I’m pleased to know you enjoyed it.
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Nicely done, Nancy. I almost chose the Creedance song for my pick for this prompt.
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Thanks so much, Dwight. It was too tempting to resist!
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I know!
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Excellent, I just had to read it out loud!
My region was officially declared to be in drought a few days ago – no sign of any rain a’comin’ for a while it seems!
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That’s awful and, sadly, all of the UK has been affected for several weeks now. I truly hope you get some badly needed rain very soon. Thanks for reading and enjoying my story.
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Shifting climate patterns are creating havoc everywhere.
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Yes, the weather is definitely crazy!
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super haibuntale
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Thanks much, Ron.
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Beautifully crafted my dear!
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Thanks much, my dear friend!
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Down here in Aussieland we have some very long droughts … 40 years ago, I remember a ‘ten’ drought finally breaking … and your Haibun truly capture essence of severe drought conditions my friend …
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Yes, I remember reading your accounts of the long, hot and dry Aussie summers. Much of Europe is experiencing terrible drought conditions right now. Thanks for this wonderful song, my dear friend …. a new one for me and very exciting! 💙🎶
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Yes, a great song by our great Aussie icon, John Williamson 🥰🎶🤗
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Nance this is amazing and your closing three lines are phenomenal. ‘Old barn holds its tongue’ personifies the site of the crime, while ‘lightnin’ digs for the truth’ elevates the storm from mere weather into an agent of reckoning 🙌
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Ange, I’m so glad you like this one! I really wanted the haiku to carry over the feel and sound of the dialect I used in the story portion. I was very happy with that line and so pleased to know it had the desired impact. Thanks so much for your wonderful comments. ☺️😍
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They are well deserved 🙌
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